Chapter 8

“You’re late.”

Upon entering the 2-D classroom, a figure with long hair for a man and sharp eyes addressed me.

A familiar face from memory.

His name was Choi Dowon. A teacher who primarily handled upper-class courses, and he was depicted as having quite a severe bias toward skill-based discrimination.

‘Why would Choi Dowon be in charge of a D-Rank class?’

As if reading my thoughts, Choi Dowon let out a sigh and continued.

“It’s temporary. Don’t make me explain twice.”

Choi Dowon wore an expression that clearly showed he found me irritating.

Well, given his disposition, I was likely the most detestable person among those present here.

Despite my grades repeatedly plummeting, I clung to the Academy like a leech, refusing to face reality.

“Starting off like this on the very first day is truly something. I have no intention of hearing your excuses. For elective course selection, your turn will be last. Any objections?”

“Yes.”

Glancing around, it seemed the other students had already mostly finished selecting their elective courses. In that case, it would look strange for me, the latecomer, to voice complaints.

Swish.

A single sheet of paper scattered in front of Choi Dowon swiftly flew toward me and stopped.

I took it and began reading the text in an empty seat.

【Advanced Basic Combat Art】

【Environmental Influences on Sorcery】

【Ley Line and Landmark Exploration】

【History and Origins of Eastern Sorcery】

【Art Manipulation and Modification】

【Forbidden Arts Studies】

【Martial Arts and Physical Techniques】

【……】

The school’s curriculum was broadly divided into two formats.

Class-based lessons conducted across four ranks from A to D, and elective courses where students directly chose their desired subjects, similar to a university system, distributed in a certain ratio.

From the outset, the types and factions of sorcery were incredibly diverse, and since everyone excelled in different areas, this method was far more efficient.

‘Some subjects I know, some I’m seeing for the first time.’

However, I had a rough idea of what to choose.

After some deliberation, the courses I selected were as follows:

【History and Origins of Eastern Sorcery】

【Art Manipulation and Modification】

【Ley Line and Landmark Exploration】

【Advanced Basic Combat Art】

【Shikigami Crafting and Research】

Subjects that would allow me to adequately demonstrate my knowledge and skills while avoiding anything heavily frowned upon in the story’s context.

‘Getting entangled too much with upper-class students or main and supporting characters would just be tiring.’

With me and a few students around me being the last, the submission of all students’ registration sheets was completed.

After some time passed, Choi Dowon floated several sheets of paper in the air and spoke again.

“The selection of most courses is now complete. From now on, these are the individuals who need to reselect their elective courses.”

Swish!

Approximately five students received papers once more, and finally, only one registration sheet remained.

Blinking with a sense of foreboding, Choi Dowon slightly raised the corner of his mouth and addressed me.

“Han Kangyoon. As you were pushed down in priority due to tardiness, you do not need to choose your courses again. Just confirm the contents.”

Swish.

With a sense of dread, I read the paper handed to me by Choi Dowon.

【Comprehensive Combat Training】

【Art Manipulation and Modification】

【Forbidden Arts Studies】

【Shikigami Crafting and Research】

【1-on-1 Exchange and Joint Training】

‘What the…’

All the relatively safe and easy-to-score subjects had disappeared, replaced by courses that any D-Rank student would clearly want to avoid.

After confirming the contents, I looked at Choi Dowon with a disbelieving expression.

In response, he acted as if he couldn’t care less.

“All processes were conducted fairly and reasonably according to Art Formulas created by the school. Does anyone have any complaints?”

“…….”

No student could possibly answer that question.

“Then I’ll take it that there are no issues.”

After finishing his words, dozens of mechanical devices floated before Choi Dowon. They were then delivered one by one to every student’s desk.

They were Terminals created by the Hwang Family, one of the Three Great Noble Families, famous for combining technology and sorcery.

“I assume you’re aware, but from the second year onward, the proportion of class-based lessons decreases significantly. Therefore, today will also proceed with only elective courses. Check your schedules on the Terminals, and I hope no one is late like someone here. That is all.”

Thud. Thud.

As if unwilling to stay here a moment longer, Choi Dowon leisurely walked out of the classroom.

I let out a sigh, picked up the Terminal, and checked my schedule.

【10:40 / Comprehensive Combat Training】

The subject I most wanted to avoid, Comprehensive Combat Training, was waiting for me right at the top.

Cheonghwa Academy is not just a simple school.

While called a school, it is essentially no different from a specialized training institution.

Therefore, unlike other schools, it does not prioritize student safety and happiness. The most important things are experience and growth.

Still, they don’t let fatalities occur, meaning this is a place where, while fatalities won’t happen, any accident short of that could occur at any time.

“You lot. What do you think becoming second-years means?”

The location was somewhere in the mountain range within the Academy grounds.

A mature woman wearing combat attire close to a uniform sat cross-legged on a tree and spoke. Then, in a cold voice, she threw out the answer.

“It means you have less than two years left until you go out into the field and fight for your lives.”

“…….”

As everyone began to focus on her words, the teacher, Baek Jieun, continued.

“First year was easy, wasn’t it?”

At those words, the expressions of most students subtly changed. The countless hardships they experienced during their first year came to mind.

“But now, we can’t afford to nurture you so kindly anymore.”

As Baek Jieun blew out a breath, a Talisman with an ominous feel flew into the air.

Whoosh.

It gradually increased in size and then suddenly burst apart.

Boom!

Something with a massive form landed between Baek Jieun and the students, kicking up a cloud of dust thick enough to obscure vision.

When it cleared, what was revealed was, quite literally, a monster.

[Grrrr…….]

Though restrained by chains and Talismans, everyone knew. If that thing were in proper condition, some of those present here would absolutely not have escaped unscathed.

The students froze on the spot, and seeing their reaction, Baek Jieun smirked and spoke.

“Scary? Feels like you could be torn to shreds any moment now?”

“P-professor? That thing seems dangerous no matter how you look at it…….”

One of the frozen students mustered the courage to speak. And rightly so, for even though they aspired to be Exorcists, those gathered here were all C to D-Rank.

Moreover, the Specter before them was absolutely not of an ordinary Level.

A vicious aura clear enough to be graded. An entity that couldn’t be dealt with unless one was at least at the level of a practicing Exorcist. It shouldn’t just pop out like this from the very first lesson.

“Yep. It’s dangerous. Even with a minus attached, this is a C-Rank.”

Even if it were the lowest D-Rank, having a rank meant the target possessed a level of danger requiring urgent subjugation. The C-Rank, a step above, went without saying.

Baek Jieun calmly smiled with her eyes. And then, she suddenly released all the Binding Spell Formulas suppressing the monster.

Clink! Clang!

Bang!

In an instant, what the students could see was the monster rising to its feet, assessing the change that had occurred to it, and Baek Jieun’s chillingly eerie smile.

“But still, wouldn’t it be better to suffer near death now than to actually die later?”

“Aah… Aah…….”

The male student who had stepped forward to ask the question made eye contact with the monster.

The student, gripped by fear, barely managed to form a Hand Seal and shouted.

“B-binding!”

Likely a reflexive attempt to execute the same thing he had seen restraining the monster. But seeing that, I couldn’t hide my disbelief.

‘Seriously, do you think that will work?’

Not only was it inferior in level compared to Baek Jieun’s, but due to being suppressed by fear, the Art Formula wasn’t solidly constructed.

Naturally, the Cursed Technique shattered almost immediately upon completion.

Crack!

“Sa, save me…!”

Thwack!

Crunch!

The student, struck by the monster’s grasp, broke a couple of trees and was slammed into the ground about three meters away.

A sight from which survival seemed utterly unlikely. The students panicked at this.

“Huh, huuuuh.”

“Kyaaah!”

Students scattered in all directions in a panic, but that attempt was futile.

Tick.

Tik.

“What the… I can’t get through here……”

“Barrier Technique! A Barrier is up!”

“Don’t tell me, the Professor……?”

Seeing this, Baek Jieun muttered as if in pity.

“Tsk tsk. This year also has a lot of students to whip into shape.”

“H-how do we capture that thing? Please save us!”

Though they were a disorganized mess to the point of being an eyesore, strictly speaking, the students’ reaction wasn’t strange.

‘This is really over the top.’

【Horned Specter】

▶Level 35

▶Stats

【Stamina: B-】

【Monstrous Power: C+】

【Art: -】

【Mental Strength: B-】

▶Traits (4/10)

【Rampage (B)】

【Bone Crusher (B-)】

【Monstrous Strength (C+)】

【Intimidation (C+)】

Horned Specter, an inferior species of unnamed goblin.

Judging by its lack of Art stat, it wasn’t an excessively dangerous individual, but it was still not a level that C and D-Rank students, whose highest Levels barely reached the late 20s, could contend with.

Even I, who had some idea of the situation through the original work, was momentarily shocked by this groundbreaking lesson.

However, though relatively inexperienced, C and D-Ranks were still a proper elite group compared to ordinary people.

“Everyone, stay calm! This is, after all, just a lesson!”

“…At least we won’t die, right?”

There were also students who remained, firming their resolve to fight rather than flee.

‘Appraisal.’

【Choi Eunyool】

▶Level 28

【Jeong Seungwon】

▶Level 27

A young man and woman in their mid-to-late 20s in Level. Their stats or Traits weren’t special, but here, they belonged to the stronger group.

‘Even they have higher Levels than me.’

During the Vacation, I had been constantly creating Shikigami and had gained some experience, but without actual combat, my Level had only risen by a mere 2.

At least, the highest Level among them, Choi Eunyool, stepped forward and scanned the surroundings.

When he confirmed Jeong Seungwon’s face, he brightened up a little, but conversely, when he confirmed my face, his expression soured.

“Han… Kangyoon?”

Choi Eunyool immediately frowned and seemed about to say something.

But in actual combat, enemies don’t graciously give you time.

Facing the Horned Specter charging straight at them, Choi Eunyool deployed an Art Formula and shouted.

“I’ll block it, so counterattack!”

Crash!

Choi Eunyool’s deployed Cursed Technique collided head-on with the Horned Specter.

An applied Art Formula combining several Basic Arts. It was a technique that decomposed impact while simultaneously returning a certain amount of it.

“Ugh……!”

But having assessed it, I could clearly foresee what was about to happen.

‘It’s going to break through.’

Glancing back, I saw Jeong Seungwon constructing an Art Formula for an attack. I decided to change my movements accordingly.

“W-wait a second! This isn’t working! Dodge!”

Crack!*

[Grrrr!]

As expected, Choi Eunyool’s Cursed Technique shattered, and the Horned Specter began attacking us unimpeded.

In the moment Jeong Seungwon, startled, hastily canceled his Art Formula and tried to dodge, my fingers moved, forming a Hand Seal.

“Fierce Wolf. Bone Bear.”

From within the black shadow, from its deep, deepest core,

Something undulating erupted forth as if surging back up.