episode_0065

Time flows and passes by.

The last day of the first week of training has arrived.

It was a day to mark the end of the grueling training where they ran like dogs.

“Hmm, everyone is here.”

Pang Jin-ah looked around at the trainees standing on the platform.

She smiled satisfactorily at the fact that everyone was present without missing a single person.

Indeed, the quality of this year’s trainees was quite good.

Until last year, there were many trainees who shouted, “I can’t take it anymore!” and tried to escape, causing the professors to go after them.

“…Maybe it’s because they were stimulated.”

Pang Jin-ah’s gaze fell on the two people at the front.

Joo Na-yong, with emerald green eyes shining along with his discovery.

And the other one was Yoo Se-ha, who appeared like a comet during the entrance exam.

These two unintentionally stirred up the trainees in various ways.

Especially Yoo Se-ha naturally attracted the most attention.

Joo Na-yong from was already a well-known figure, so everyone only sent him admiring glances.

While Yoo Se-ha was just a person with rumors surrounding him.

At first, those who looked at him suspiciously, at some point, started sending him looks of admiration.

Well…

It seemed to have a slightly different meaning for the female trainees.

“…He’s handsome again today.”

“Seriously, enduring the training just to see Yoo Se-ha’s face.”

“I mean, if it weren’t for him, I would have escaped a long time ago, the other guys are nothing special…”

Women all around pretended not to care and glanced at him here and there.

Of course, Yoo Se-ha himself didn’t care at all.

Or rather, he wasn’t even aware of it in the first place.

He only cared about the cute Mahana next to him, saying “Meow~” and Moon Bora, who was on the verge of collapsing after the forced march for the past few days.

“Mahana, are you feeling okay today?”

“Meow~! I’m great! Meow meow!”

“…Ugh.”

“…Hey, Bora, are you okay?”

“…D-Don’t…call me by that weird nickname…”

Pang Jin-ah cleared her throat with a chuckle.

She brought her hand to the microphone and deliberately made a buzzing sound, drawing the attention of those around her.

“Attention! Thank you for enduring the rigorous training for the past 6 days. And I believe you all know. Today is the highlight of the first week of training.”

All the trainees nodded at her words.

The highlight was none other than the ‘evaluation test’.

As they entered the individual evaluations, this was an important evaluation that even the professors received information about after formal admission.

In other words, getting a good score on today’s test was much more important than the training so far.

As everyone knew well, determination was evident in their eyes.

“Before we begin, let me explain the precautions.”

Pang Jin-ah pointed to the field and pressed a button on the remote control in her hand.

With a buzzing sound, the track began to shake and something started to be set up.

It was some traps and obstacles.

To avoid these and complete 40 laps in the end was the thrilling test they had to face.

“Make sure all the assistants wear the gravity device.”

The weight increase continued here.

The content was so severe that the faces of most magic users, including Moon Bora, turned pale.

“…Seha, Hana.”

“Yeah?”

“Meow?”

Moon Bora looked at the two with a faint gaze.

A tear rolled down her cheek as she looked at them.

“…Please bury my remains in a peaceful place…”

“M-Meow!? Hey, don’t speak so weakly. Bora!”

“Right! We’ve come this far!”

Despite the conversation of the three, Pang Jin-ah did not hesitate to search her pocket and raise the signal flare.

“Then, may luck be with everyone.”

*Bam!*

The sound of the signal flare breaking the silence echoes.

Accordingly, the disciples started running forward eagerly.

Among them, there was a figure who smoothly slipped through the crowd and increased their speed in an instant.

It was none other than Joo Nayong.

As if it were natural, she took the lead and raced forward like a red meteor, showing no signs of hesitation.

The red magic enveloping her legs revealed an unusual momentum.

The power of [Sprint], which increased the owner’s movement speed.

Perhaps her level was quite high, as she was running as if she were about to explode.

Even the disciples were amazed by her lightning-fast movements.

And then.

One person surpassed everyone’s expectations and joined the front.

“…?!”

Joo Nayong was taken aback.

Right next to her, Yoo Seha was chasing after her at a similar speed.

The red aura surrounding his legs was undoubtedly the same [Sprint] attribute as hers.

Following closely behind, Mahana was also shouting, “Mweaah!” as she swiftly ran towards them.

Her agile and resilient calf muscles, typical of the cat tribe, allowed her to run as if unaffected by gravity.

And even Moon Bora followed closely behind, muttering, “Eukkeuak…” at a considerably fast pace.

“…This can’t be happening.”

Joo Nayong wiped the cold sweat off her forehead.

In just a few days…

To think she was being caught up to this extent…?

It’s impossible!

“Don’t make me laugh!”

I will never lose!

*

5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 25 minutes.

And finally, the awaited 30 minutes.

“Huff, huff…”

Joo Nayong raised her bangs that were obstructing her vision.

She wiped away the sweat streaming down her face.

Despite exerting too much strength in running, she was able to run almost to the finish line within 30 minutes.

Joo Nayong exhaled deeply, looking back briefly.

Yoo Seha.

He was diligently following behind her.

The number above his head was 28.

A difference of 2 laps between them.

Just 2 laps, which practically meant it was a small enough gap to be overturned at any time.

“This can’t be happening.”

Joo Nayong trembled.

She was suspicious that perhaps he had intentionally deceived her recently, not just bluffing.

“…No.”

No. Stay calm, Joo Nayong.

This is simply Yoo Seha’s greatness.

Even if it’s an unreasonable growth that threatens her.

No matter how much she dissects it, she shouldn’t perceive the achievements of others as an insult.

“…It’s okay.”

It’s okay.

He’s definitely not normal either.

The light in his eyes dimmed, and his legs wobbled.

It was evidence that he had reached his limit.

On the other hand, she still had some room to spare.

“Just keep running like this.”

There’s no way she’ll be caught up to.

No, she won’t!

*

However, a few minutes later.

Joo Nayong looked beside her as if she couldn’t believe it.

Yoo Seha, with the number 39 above his head, was visible.

She was also at 39.

In that short time, he had caught up to her and was running alongside her.

Truly… an unbelievable growth.

“W-what…”

“Oh my, I’m going to die… Huh? What did you say?”

“……”

Joo Nayong gritted her teeth.

Instead of being astonished and asking questions, she ran faster.

She had to win.

She must win!

“Professor Pang Jin is watching from afar!”

Her gaze turned towards Yoo Seha.

It’s not this man, but herself who will be acknowledged and taken in as an exclusive disciple.

Joo Nayong breathed heavily, forcing strength into her legs.

With a bang, her body pushed through the air as she sprinted forward.

Thanks to that, she gradually began to pull ahead of Yoo Seha.

“It’s almost there!”

The finish line was right in front of her.

She just had to reach it now!

Joo Nayong ran like a madwoman.

Focusing solely on her speed, she was faster than anything else.

However, this ultimately caused her to forget the one thing she should have been most mindful and careful of.

The track she’s running on right now isn’t just about completing 40 laps.

It’s a gimmick-type track with obstacles and ‘traps’ set up all over.

Creak-!

Juna-yong steps on a suspicious-looking platform.

It was a mistake she would never have made under normal circumstances.

But she was so exhausted that she didn’t even realize she had triggered something.

And this led to Juna-yong’s downfall.

“…! Hey, hey, it’s dangerous!”

Yuseha shouts in alarm.

Perplexed, Juna-yong finally realizes that she has triggered something.

The trap activated like lightning, emitting a small light and paralyzing Juna-yong’s legs in an instant.

Immediate status effect with [paralysis].

All traps did not directly cause harm to the participants.

Instead, they boasted a high intensity and duration that made it nearly impossible to escape from that spot.

Juna-yong, taken aback.

She wanted to curse, but she bit her tongue.

“…Y-you, agh! Th-this is nothing.”

If she could overcome it with sheer determination.

Juna-yong forced herself to stand up.

She took one step after another.

With each step, she felt a tingling sensation in her feet as if they were severely cramped.

‘…No.’

She was on the brink.

Half a lap.

Just half a lap more to complete the 40 laps.

Maintaining an overwhelming lead now depended on herself and Yuseha.

She had to earn Professor Pang Jin-ah’s approval.

The figure who had rescued her with a black blindfold and cape was a long-standing dream and idol.

She stood beside Pang Jin-ah, not just following behind.

That was why she had come here!

However, Juna-yong’s resolve soon crumbled.

She was already pushing herself too hard.

She had no strength left to endure.

In such a situation, being hit with [paralysis], even Juna-yong couldn’t hold on.

Thud-! Juna-yong fell.

Despair spread across her face.

Was this it, was this how she would fail?

After maintaining first place throughout the training period…

To end up with a score worse than last place?

In a moment of tearful injustice.

Yuseha, who had closed the distance, looked down at her.

His eyes were filled with uncertainty.

“Hey, hey. Are you okay?”

“……”

‘…Yuseha, disassemble.’

Anger. Disassemble!

To lose like this…

“Damn it!”

Juna-yong tightly shut her eyes.

She wished he would disappear soon.

She wished he would run away so far that she couldn’t hear him.

But soon, his words and actions made Juna-yong’s eyes widen.

“Juna-yong! Wake up and open your eyes! It’s not over yet!”

“Huh, huh?”

He showed his back, bent his legs, and crossed his arms behind him.

That posture…

“W-what, what are you doing?”

“What are you doing! If you keep this up, you’ll get caught by the others!”

Hurry up and get up!