Chapter 7: Dungeon Exploration (2)

Chapter 7: Dungeon Exploration (2)

TL/Editor: looloo

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The Korea Hero Academy is comparable to a university where students select their own majors.

Ordinarily, most individuals aren't aware of their strengths, but this is not the case at the Korea Hero Academy.This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

Even the ones who don't realize their strengths have the chance to sit the entrance exam due to sheer luck. However, most of them don't make it through the screening at the entrance exam, with a few odd exceptions.

"We will choose our majors before the first joint class," announced Seo Woojoo.

Choosing a major is straightforward.

Subjects include magic, alchemy, power awakening, swordsmanship, and others. Students just need to choose the one that suits their aptitude.

Upon hearing Seo Woojoo's words, the students rose from their chairs and began to form groups.

"Seoha, what's your choice?" asked one of the students.

"I think I'll opt for close combat," I replied.

"Close combat?" Kim Seohyun seemed puzzled.

"I want to build up some stamina," I explained.

"Oh, you're aiming to train because your physique is weak. It's a strategy to compensate for weaknesses with strengths, or to improve your weaknesses so they're no longer weaknesses," Kim Seohyun nodded in understanding, seemingly satisfied with my decision.

"So, you're opting for the understanding of close combat then?"

"Exactly," I confirmed, slightly nervous.

Kim Seohyun's eyes sparkled. The understanding of close combat course does have a theoretical aspect, but it is predominantly practical. He seemed quite eager to spar with me.

"So, is it just you and I in the understanding of close combat?" I asked.

"No, I'm joining as well," a voice interjected suddenly.

Turning around, I saw a man with a large build. His name was Park Woonhyuk, a handsome and masculine individual.

He was the warrior who passed the entrance exam alongside Hong Yuhwa. He was proficient in spear usage and, despite appearing elitist at first, he was quite personable once you got to know him. However, most people saw him as a staunch elitist.

Typically, he'd be the one claiming he'll take the top spot from Kim Seohyun. But him sticking around me suggested a sense of competition.

"No, that's not correct," Kim Seohyun contradicted, implying he would take the top spot, not me. He didn't say anything to me, probably because he believed I was better than him deep down.

I nodded and noted down a few more subjects: Theory of Magic Destruction, Basic Alchemy Knowledge, and Understanding of Ancient Languages.

The Theory of Magic Destruction would help me achieve practical scores with the Body Against Heaven physique.

There's no issue with Basic Alchemy Knowledge since it's about making potions, and I have all the formulas in my head.

Understanding of Ancient Languages would help me get closer to Kim Ara.

"Are you planning to take all those subjects?"

"Well, they're all easy."

None of the timings clashed, and the only subject as demanding as the 'joint classes' conducted in our class was the Understanding of Close Combat.

"I should also take the Theory of Magic Destruction then."

"I have no choice. If you guys are doing it, I'll join."

I got up and handed my paper to Seo Woojoo.

"Ah, Understanding of Close Combat?"

Seo Woojoo seemed surprised for a moment, but then nodded.

"Good choice. You're excellent in everything else, but you've been neglecting physical training. The intent to balance this out is commendable."

I wondered when he saw me, thinking I'm excellent in everything else.

I just nodded. Then I noticed Seo Gayeon approaching Seo Woojoo.

"Ah, Understanding of Close Combat and Basic Swordsmanship and Magic. Are you planning to specialize in swordsmanship?"

"Y-Yes. I feel like swordsmanship suits me."

"Is that so?"

I took a moment to reflect.

Seo Gayeon wanted to learn swordsmanship, but that seemed like surrendering halfway.

A restriction that felt more like a curse.

Seo Gayeon had received such a curse from a certain Mine. The Mines thought her abilities were too dangerous.

I took a moment to consider.

Seo Gayeon's abilities are remarkable. But because of the restriction, she struggles initially and only begins to shine in the middle stages.

"You seem more suited for magic than swordsmanship."

I stated, trying to seem casual about it.

"Wha, what? Me, ma, magic?"

"Yes, you seem like you'd be good at it."

At my words, the people around us looked at Seo Gayeon. She appeared nervous and lacked confidence.

The others wondered why I, Lee Seoha, would pay attention to her.

Having finished the introductions, I sat down and pondered.

This seems alright.

Four warriors and one archer. The proportion of warriors is high, but that's unavoidable.

'I guess they probably arranged it this way because I'm a mage.'

"But, are you and Ga-yeon already acquainted, Seoha?"

"Huh? M-Me and Seoha?"

Seo Gayeon asked in surprise.

"I'm just asking because Lee Seoha recommended the magic class earlier. I thought maybe you two knew each other~."

Baek Seolgi extended her words.

Baek Seolgi, Baek Seolgi. Suddenly, I feel like eating Baek Seolgi.

"I just said it because she seemed talented in magic. It doesn't mean anything."

I concealed my true feelings. Seo Gayeon is a mage. An essential puzzle piece for seeing a happy ending in this world.

However, there's no need to explicitly say that. With low self-esteem and relying more on others than her own thoughts, Seo Gayeon would likely find such attention burdensome.

"The next team is Park Woonhyuk's team."

Time slowly passes by. They're adding new teams every five minutes, but there's not much to do.

"Yawn."

"......Are you yawning?"

Han Woosung said in a tone of disbelief as I casually yawned.

Well, it can't be helped.

While others were terrified at the sight of the cave, I knew all 15 dungeon layouts like the back of my hand. There's no way I could feel any tension.

"The next team is Lee Seoha's team."

"Then, let's go."

As Instructor Seo Woojoo called, I calmly stood up.

The closer we got to the cave entrance, the more eerie it felt. Someone swallowed their saliva nervously. As if they were scared.

Upon stepping into the cave, a fork in the road appeared.

'Oh, we're in luck.'

We'd ended up in a dungeon conducive to a so-called speed run.

"There's a fork. Which way should we go?"

"Hmm."

Instead of heading towards the fork, I went to the right wall. It should be somewhere around here.

I found a protruding rock. I lightly tapped it with my hand. Thump, thump. I could hear the peculiar sound of wind leaking.

The structure of this place was such that if you broke the wall, a path would appear. However, this wall was quite thick. Even if Kim Seohyun were to hit it with all his might, it wouldn't break.

I called Kim Ara over.

"Ara, come here for a moment."

"......Why?"

"Try breaking this wall."

"......You want me to break this?"

"Yes."

"I, I'm not that good at stuff like this."

Kim Ara said in a voice filled with awkwardness.

It wasn't that she wasn't good at this kind of thing, she was just uncomfortable with being singled out.

Well, it was understandable.

There were quite a few aggressive guys around here.

If the young, overconfident ones challenge Kim Ara and she happened to stand out, her school life would turn out quite differently from what she wished for.

I whispered quietly to Kim Ara.

-You could try to enjoy the peace you want, but do you think the Suzerain will let that happen?

At my words, Kim Ara's eyes trembled. Her violet eyes stared at me, filled with a mixture of emotions.

'How did he know I had something to do with the Suzerain? Was he guessing? No, that was unlikely. Then, he wouldn't specifically mention the Suzerain.'

She must have been thinking along those lines.

"If you break this, I'll tell you. How to escape from the Suzerain," I said with a slight smile.

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