7. Obtaining D-Grade Skill Books
The last remaining test was the 1:1 evaluation match between students and teachers.
“I believe you have better realized your shortcomings or strengths in the individual mock battle and group mock battle. The evaluation match with teachers is a test to find a way to supplement those shortcomings and further refine your strengths into greater advantages, so don’t feel burdened and face it.”
If one truly faces it without burden believing those words, they could receive the worst possible result imaginable.
Rather, in the evaluation matches with teachers, critical weaknesses that even the students themselves were unaware of were often discovered.
In such cases, the evaluation match is a test where expulsion is possible at the teacher’s discretion.
In short, regardless of the results of the previous two matches, this one evaluation match is the most important.
“My results weren’t good in the individual mock battle, and I even gave up midway in the group mock battle. What if I get expelled because of that?”
“Before you go, check carefully if there’s anything you forgot to pack.”
“You’re really…”
“Class 1, Han Seol, come forward!”
When his name was called, Han Seol got up from his seat and headed to the individual arena.
The individual arena was a space isolated from the outside, where only the instructor and the student being tested could be present.
Thanks to that, even fatal weaknesses or strengths the student wanted to hide from others could be discussed in more depth.
As Han Seol entered the individual arena, the instructor who was taking a short break came out to greet him.
“Welcome, student Han Seol. Thanks to this midterm exam, you’ve practically become a superstar. Not only your peers but also quite a few instructors and upperclassmen are interested in you. How do you feel?”
“I don’t particularly care.”
“You definitely look like that. Even I, who am saying this, watched all your matches. To be honest, I couldn’t believe it. No matter what, after teaching these greenhorns for half a year, there’s no way I wouldn’t remember someone like you. But I really had no idea you existed. So when I checked the roster, oh my gosh… You were a complete infirmary VIP, right? How can someone who never missed a day and stamped attendance in the infirmary every training session have skills like this?”
To the instructor’s reasonable suspicion, Han Seol made up an appropriate excuse.
It was impossible to honestly say that he had been reviewing the swordsmanship he learned in his previous life at night.
“My family has been running a martial arts dojo for generations. It went bankrupt a long, long time ago, and now we’re barely keeping it going, but that has been a great help to me.”
“Does that mean your father is also an outstanding expert?”
“My father was too weak to inherit it. I also learned from my grandfather when I was young, and my grandfather passed away a few years ago.”
Prepared lies flowed smoothly from Han Seol’s mouth.
To this end, he had already called home in advance and coordinated his story with his parents.
They probably wouldn’t dig that deep anyway, but it didn’t hurt to be prepared.
“For him to pass down such martial arts to you, he must have been a renowned and excellent hunter.”
“Although our family’s circumstances were not sufficient for him to become a hunter, I believe that if he had become one, he would have definitely made a great name for himself.”
“You’re proud of your grandfather.”
“It was my grandfather’s unfulfilled wish to become a hunter, prove his martial arts, and make a great name for himself in the world. Now, my grandfather’s dream is my dream.”
For some reason, the instructor’s eyes were already moist with tears.
Without realizing it, he turned his head and furtively wiped the corner of his eye.
“Your parents also asked me, the instructor, to convey to you that they support you.”
‘As expected, they contacted him.’
It’s good to be prepared for the unexpected… It seemed like he did well to coordinate the story in advance.
“Your evaluation match ends here. Originally, I should give you a solution to supplement your weaknesses and utilize your strengths through sparring, but… Between you and me, I’m honestly not confident. Rather, I’m more worried that you might notice my lacking areas. Hahaha!”
He was an instructor who joked around quite well.
“I have no doubt that you can grow even more on your own. And I’ll try to get permission from other academy directors for your personal training space. Now, don’t waste time in the infirmary and work even harder than now.”
‘It seems my thoughts were wrong.’
He had thought that all the instructors at Cheongsol Academy lacked both motivation and ability, but that seemed to be his misconception.
Not everyone was like that, but there were definitely instructors who sincerely cared for their students, like the one in front of him.
“Thank you, Instructor Park Sang-tae.”
“Enough with the empty words. After you graduate and become successful, treat me to a big meal. Hahaha!”
“I’ll try my best.”
As Han Seol, who had finished a slightly different evaluation match than other students, returned to his seat, Park Sang-tae’s voice calling Seong Yu-ra rang out through the speakers.
Han Seol conveyed a message to Seong Yu-ra, who was passing by his side.
“Do as you wish. That instructor won’t be so blind as to not recognize your sincerity.”
“Huh?”
Seong Yu-ra was startled by Han Seol’s unexpected advice, but there was a strange belief in his words that somehow it would work out if she did as he said.
“Got it! Do well and…”
But Han Seol, who should have heard the answer, was already far away after saying what he wanted to say.
Feeling a bit deflated, Seong Yu-ra, who gathered the strength that had drained from her shoulders, walked vigorously to the individual testing room.
* * *
The midterm exams were finally over.
The students waiting for the results announcement were so nervous that some couldn’t even sleep, and some complained of indigestion and spent a painful time in the bathroom even though they only ate tubes and capsules.
Fortunately, there were no classes or training until the vacation started after the midterm exams ended.
Of course, it couldn’t be anything but good news for Han Seol.
Because he could borrow and rent out an entire empty gym.
As he honed his swordsmanship in the gym during the day and quietly gathered mana and studied magic at night, a week had already passed by.
“The midterm exam results are out!”
Class president Yoo Jun-sang (Han Seol only now realized he was the class president) brought a large poster and fixed it on the blackboard.
The poster had the names of Class 1 students written on it, and next to the names of the students who passed the midterm exam, their overall year ranking was listed.
On the contrary, students who failed the midterm exam had a (-) next to their names, which meant disqualification… in other words, expulsion.
“Woohoo!”
“Yaaaay!”
As a result, Class 1 was in a festive mood.
There were students with low rankings, but not a single one had a (-) next to their name.
It was all thanks to their desperate efforts.
Moreover…
“Oh my gosh…!”
“Han Seol, you?”
“I knew that guy would do this.”
While everyone passed, the primary concern of the Class 1 students was, of course, Han Seol’s ranking.
The ranking of the superstar who demonstrated top-notch skills on a different level from others in the midterm exams was bound to be a topic of interest.
{Class 1 Han Seol (1)}
“I thought it might be, but as expected, 1st place!”
“Not to mention his attacker skills, he crushed other tankers with that physique even in tanking. We have to acknowledge that.”
“Shouldn’t we try to get close to him even now?”
If they could lean on him moderately, they would be jealous or wary.
However, if the other person is at a place too high to even lean on, people feel awe rather than envy. That was exactly the case for the Class 1 students now.
Even after confirming his 1st place ranking, the boys admired Han Seol’s still indifferent appearance, and the girls blushed for some reason.
Moreover, he slept during class and didn’t participate in training, so they didn’t know until now, but Han Seol was even…
‘Really handsome!’
‘How can a handsome guy be skilled too?’
‘You guys! If you hit on Seol behind my back, you’re all dead. Got it?’
As he unknowingly gained a fan club, a school-wide announcement rang in Han Seol’s ears.
-Attention. All students who ranked 1st to 3rd in each year’s exam, come to the principal’s office immediately. I repeat. All students who ranked 1st to 3rd in each year’s exam, come to the principal’s office immediately.
“Congratulations, Han Seol.”
“What are you doing? Go ahead. If it’s useless after receiving it, you can give it to me.”
Leaving behind Yoo Jun-sang and Seong Yu-ra’s congratulations, Han Seol headed to the faculty office.
On the way to the principal’s office, he saw a familiar physique and face, and sure enough, it was Han Ji-woong from Class 5.
“As expected, you were 1st place?”
When Han Ji-woong recognized Han Seol and greeted him first, Han Seol asked back.
“What about you?”
“I’m 2nd place.”
Han Seol nodded his head.
He accepted it as reasonable.
In the midterm exams, rank is important, but it’s not everything.
The scores given by the instructors who graded the midterm exams were much more significant than the rankings.
The fact that Han Ji-woong, who met Han Seol relatively early and was eliminated in the 1:1 individual match, got 2nd place…
And the fact that Han Seol, who had no choice but to forfeit the group match due to Yoo Jun-sang’s lack of stamina, got 1st place was thanks to the scores from the instructors who closely watched the matches.
The 1st year 3rd place was the quietest among the three.
He was a class leader of Class 2 whose strengths were mobile shooting with fast feet and high accuracy.
Of course, he wasn’t skilled enough to catch the eyes of Han Seol and Han Ji-woong.
When they arrived at the principal’s office, they also met the 2nd and 3rd year seniors who arrived around the same time.
It felt like a slight cold wind was blowing as if they were conscious of Han Seol and Han Ji-woong, but the two simply bowed their heads formally in greeting and entered the principal’s office first without paying any attention to them.
Of course, it was undeniable that their actions provoked the 2nd and 3rd year seniors, but they decided to endure it for now.
“Hohoho! I heard that the heat of the midterm exams this year was hotter than ever before. Especially the performance of the 1st years stood out greatly, right? I have high expectations for your future. This is a small gift from the principal to encourage you to study and train even harder in the future. Please accept it without burden. Hohoho~!”
The generous principal with a slightly ambiguous sexual identity smiled and presented D-grade skill books to the senior students first in order.
“1st year 1st place, Han Seol, come forward.”
As Han Seol came forward, the principal shook hands with him and presented three skill books along with words of encouragement.
“I heard that student Han Seol was the most outstanding among this year’s new students. I hope you will continue to work hard and become an excellent hunter who will raise the prestige of Cheongsol Academy… and furthermore, the status of Korea. Hohoho~!”
“I will do my best.”
Han Seol, who returned to his seat after shaking hands, checked the three skill books given by the principal.
{Aura (D)}
{Aura Recovery (D)}
{Aura Consumption Reduction (D)}
