“I am the instructor in charge of Class 1. Joo-yeon.”
Rohan felt utterly overwhelmed just by facing her.
He instinctively realized that neither his current strength nor the power he possessed in his past life could even begin to compare to hers.
This is insane…
To think there existed someone who could leave such a strong impression simply by being present. It was almost hard to believe she was human.
The famous hunters he had met in his past life? They wouldn’t even dare to stand in Joo-yeon’s shadow.
While Rohan had his eyes fixed on the instructor with awe.
A notification window appeared at just the right moment.
[Achievement unlocked: ‘Encountering the Dragon Slayer.’]
[You have earned 50P as an achievement reward.]
“….…!”
The term “encountering” in achievements wasn’t something as simple as casually crossing paths.
While the criteria varied depending on the individual, at minimum, it required forming a connection or reaching a certain level of favor.
In this case, the relationship between Joo-yeon and Rohan, as instructor and student, had been established. This fulfills the achievement’s conditions.
This applies way faster than in the game.
As Rohan etched this new information into his mind, Joo-yeon grabbed a thick marker from the board and continued speaking.
“Since it’s the first day, I’ll keep it simple and let you go. So pay attention.”
Her sharp gaze swept over the students.
“First, I’ll explain the upcoming schedule and the goals our Class 1 will aim to achieve over the next two years.”
At Orion Academy, the program lasted two years and once an instructor was assigned, students remained under that instructor’s guidance until graduation.
It was a period that felt too long to be considered short, yet too ambiguous to be called truly distant. Setting clear goals was important to keep running steadily through such a stretch of time.
“First and foremost, we need to grow and become stronger every day. However, we must not neglect theory.”
Her words were pointedly clear as if directed at specific individuals.
Under Joo-yeon’s gaze, Rohan remained silent while Noah wagged her tail and grinned innocently.
“There are definitely moments when you feel that theory is useless when you enter actual combat. But when you’re truly cornered, it can become the lifeline that saves you.”
Joo-yeon, who had missed meetings due to other obligations, had meticulously reviewed the evaluation sheets of her assigned students as soon as she returned to the academy city. She even took note of their tendencies.
Noah Frozenheart and Rohan’s practical scores had been praiseworthy, but recalling how they had scribbled only a single line on their written tests gave her a slight headache.
“And… there needs to be a clear standard. Does any student here know the criteria for an F-rank monster?”
Most of the students raised their hands.
Joo-yeon’s eyes fell on a student sitting next to Noah Frozenheart.
So that’s Ichinose Jun’s daughter.
The top scorer in written tests among all the students, and her practical skills showed no shortcomings either, according to the evaluations.
For someone so young to achieve so much, perhaps she had even surpassed her father’s talent.
“Student Ichinose Yui. Explain it.”
“An F-rank monster is one that an average adult male could handle effectively as long as they have a weapon.”
“Correct. Then what about a B-rank monster?”
“It is a monster enveloped by a special barrier called the ‘Abyss’ which makes ordinary physical attacks completely ineffective. One must use sufficient magical power to pierce the Abyss in order to injure it.”
“…Good. Sit down.”
Her explanation was as precise and efficient as a machine.
Ichinose Yui seemed to have memorized the Orion Academy textbook as part of her preparation.
She’s probably already finished learning the theory through advanced studies.
Joo-yeon swallowed a bitter smile as she thought of Ichinose Yui’s parents.
“I’ll keep it simple. The goal for Class 1 by the time you graduate is to reach B-rank.”
“!?”
The eyes of several students trembled as if an earthquake had struck.
B-rank was the level at which famous military units were immediately dispatched to subdue monsters upon their appearance.
“Monsters in this category that appear most frequently in statistical data include… the Owlbear or Frost Golem.”
As soon as Joo-yeon finished speaking, the room was filled with a heavy silence. It was completely different from the earlier atmosphere.
Joo-yeon began elaborating on the scenario she had anticipated.
“Of course, I’m not saying you need to take down a B-rank monster alone. I’m not asking for anything that reckless. It’s enough to reach the point where you can break through the Abyss that surrounds such monsters and inflict a wound.”
An attack infused with sufficient magical energy to penetrate the barrier would suffice, whether through sheer power or concentrated force.
Even adding just one person capable of that to the battlefield could turn the tide.
If you can achieve that level of skill by the time you graduate, your abilities will be recognized wherever you go.
And among those present here, there were already students capable of reaching that level.
“There’s no need to overthink how to get there. I will help you maximize the potential of the talents you’ve been given. Understood?”
“””””””Yes!”””””””
The students responded in unison with a resounding answer, almost as if it had been rehearsed.
Joo-yeon possessed a charisma so intense that it compelled everyone to respond as one.
“Let’s continue.”
Joo-yeon wrote numbers on the board in bold strokes.
The meaning behind the eleven digits was clear.
“If there’s anything unclear or if you’re unsure about making a decision, don’t hesitate to contact me, whether it’s late at night or early in the morning. I’ve registered all of Class 1’s numbers, so feel free to reach out.”
The students began pulling out their phones to save the number.
Rohan also retrieved his smartphone from his pocket.
I should ask about part-time jobs.
His phone’s contact list and photo gallery had remained untouched until now.
While the gallery contained a fair number of photos taken of his achievements, the contact list had always been empty.
This was finally the moment where a single number would be added. It was a surprisingly moving milestone.
“Within the grounds of Orion Academy and under the supervision of the instructors, including myself, your safety is guaranteed. It is part of the instructors’ duty.”
However, once academy classes ended and the students returned to their dormitories, that protection could no longer be assured.
That didn’t mean the instructors ignored incidents outside the academy either.
“This also applies if you’re involved in a dangerous situation or trouble outside. Don’t let fear of being reprimanded stop you. Make sure to contact me.”
Rohan was impressed by her unwavering voice.
Now that he heard the story directly, rather than through text, the sincerity and appeal conveyed in the voice were different.
What an admirable person.
Joo-yeon was a righteous figure who always fulfilled her responsibilities.
She was one of the key characters who saved the protagonist several times in moments of crisis.
“And lastly.”
Joo-yeon, after hanging her pen next to the board, briefly checked the time and decided to issue a warning to the students.
Her voice lowered slightly as if to emphasize the importance of what she was about to say.
“Recently, the Public Safety Department has been investigating a series of unsettling rumors, so students are advised to refrain from going out late at night.”
Rohan blinked at the tone of caution in her words.
That sentence…?
There was an intense sense of déjà vu in the final remark Joo-yeon made.
His mind went blank for a moment.
“That is all.”
…
…
After the first day of the semester ended at the academy.
Rohan returned to his dormitory. He was still mulling over Joo-yeon’s parting words.
He had downloaded an app to search for part-time jobs but hadn’t even opened it yet.
– Recently, the Public Safety Department has been investigating a series of unsettling rumors, so students are advised to refrain from going out late at night.
That…
There was no mistake. It had been a long time, but he remembered it clearly.
The scene hinted at the tutorial where the main character would experience the battle system.
It’s certain that there’s no protagonist at the academy. But what if there’s no protagonist in this world at all?
What would even happen then?
For now, he was curious to see how the current incident would be resolved.
Realistically speaking, the Elysium Public Safety Department might step in and handle it.
Rohan stared at the ceiling and continued his speculation based on the assumption that there was no protagonist.
The more he thought about it, the more absurd and unexpected conclusions he came to. He scratched his chin with a furrowed brow and thought to himself.
…Wouldn’t having a protagonist be a problem too?
A righteous personality that couldn’t tolerate injustice wasn’t a bad trait. Thanks to that, various secrets were often found.
But to be honest, if someone asked whether that impulsive behavior was entirely a good thing, well, that was debatable.
In Abyss City, forming a party of three characters drawn from a gacha system was the standard.
As with most subculture games, protagonist characters usually didn’t perform well. Apart from the very beginning, he couldn’t remember ever using one.
Maybe they were there just to appear during mandatory story scenes.
If there was a protagonist, they’d probably just meddle everywhere.
Even when thinking optimistically, that was about the best he could come up with.
How was the current reality? This was no longer a game.
Without high-performing party members, how far could a protagonist go alone?
“Hmmm…”
He took his time and pondered the situation before coming to a conclusion.
Then, he clicked his tongue.
In the end, it was all just speculation, and that frustrated Rohan.
Should I go check for myself?
The timing was perfect. It matched the dark hours of the tutorial.
Rohan opened his wardrobe and pulled on a black hoodie before flipping the hood over his head.
Clunk!
He turned the doorknob and stepped out of the dormitory. He immediately felt the biting cold air that couldn’t be compared to the afternoon.
He stopped by a convenience store and bought the cheapest mask he could find, then covered his mouth with it.
“……”
Would those guys be at the spot tonight or not?
Rohan couldn’t be certain of anything. The protagonist wasn’t here where they were supposed to be after all.
Step. Step. Step.
His steps carried him without hesitation in the direction of the women’s dormitory.
On the way, his eyes caught sight of a vehicle parked along the path.
…It’s there.
A gray van with heavily tinted windows that concealed its interior.
It was identical to one he had seen in the game, but it was still too early to jump to conclusions.
Rohan approached the vehicle.
He then knocked lightly on the driver’s side window.
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