*
Lee Da-eun's family is a bit strict.
It's a so-called prestigious family, and she grew up receiving a different kind of education than ordinary children.
At first, she didn't think much of it, but she felt frustrated with a life where she couldn't do what she wanted.
On days when she could play with Kang Ju-won and Soo-ah, she was happy to escape that frustration.
Unlike other friends, her parents didn't interfere much with her being close to the two of them.
That is, until Ju-won's family fell on hard times.
As their family situation worsened, her parents told her not to be close with Kang Ju-won anymore.
At a young age, Lee Da-eun rebelled against her parents for the first time.
'If it weren't for Grandpa... I would have had to live so frustratingly.'
A big fight broke out in the family, and Lee Da-eun's grandfather, Lee Geon-yong, appeared as a mediator.
Lee Geon-yong was dissatisfied with his granddaughter being strictly educated.
Eventually, there was a clash between Lee Geon-yong and Lee Da-eun's parents, and Lee Geon-yong emerged as the victor.
Lee Da-eun, who monopolized Lee Geon-yong's love, was able to do whatever she wanted from then on.
'Except for business...'
When she was young, she asked her grandfather to help Ju-won out of a desire to help him, but he refused outright.
'It was a ridiculous story, though...'
How could it make sense to revive a bankrupt company?
There were no particular restrictions on giving light gifts.
So, she would always support Kang Ju-won with necessary items as gifts, but it seems that was a big burden.
'I should have been more careful...'
She didn't know back then that no one likes to be pitied.
Kang Ju-won and Jeong Soo-ah, who were with her during the only time she could escape her frustrating daily life in her childhood.
She had a strong desire to feel that emotion from those days again.
'Now we're in the same class!'
It's not like the old days, but being in the same class made going to the Academy fun.
They're still distant, but she thought they would get closer again if she tried a little harder.
As Ju-won's partner, she wanted to help him.
"So, I have to work hard today too!"
She had been training with Kang Ju-won since the day of the sparring with Choi Tae-soo.
It would be burdensome because she was sure he would do something ridiculous if she asked her grandfather, but she was glad that Kang Ju-won readily agreed.
There are no results yet, but I have to work hard today too!
*
I thought there wouldn't be many team offers because my ranking had dropped, but more girls than I thought came to me.
'I'm thinking of doing it with Da-eun.'
I rejected them all with a smile, even though it was annoying.
It feels like I've suddenly become popular, so there are many kids who are looking at me positively, but there are also many who aren't.
I rejected them as kindly as possible so that there wouldn't be any problems later.
'I think I know why Min-ji is like that.'
I was dealing with them in a casual manner when I heard Kang Min-ji calling from behind.
"Hey, Kim Si-woo!"
"Hey, Ju-won~"
Just then, Lee Da-eun also called Kang Ju-won. Seeing them together, it looked like they had something to say.
'Suddenly, they want to form a team?'
Yesterday, the reaction wasn't good because of Kang Ju-won, but Min-ji's opinion changed in just one day.
I whispered into Min-ji's ear so that Kang Ju-won couldn't hear.
"Weren't you against it because of Kang Ju-won?"
"But it would be nice to do it with Da-eun..."
I could see that she had become more cautious than before, probably because she had heard the rumors about Kang Min-ji.
'No matter how much you try, it'll never work.'
Da-eun came towards me with a beaming smile. Her heartwarming smile and huge breasts are always the best.
"We're okay with it... What about Si-woo?"
It seems that everyone except me has already made a decision. There was no need to hesitate.
"Please take care of me in the future."
"Yeah~ Si-woo and Min-ji, let's do well together?"
"Uh... yeah, please take care of me, Da-eun..."
"Please take care of me too."
If we're on the same team, I'll have more opportunities to get closer to Da-eun.
*
Most of the classes in the first semester were common education.
Classes like theories that Hunters must know, or survival skills.
There's no problem with doing that kind of education the same way, but combat techniques are different.
There are Hunters who use magic, swordsmanship, shields, healers, etc., each with their own way of attacking.
As for combat techniques, it was necessary to conduct customized classes for each Hunter.
Min-ji was in martial arts, and I was in swordsmanship, which was one of the classes that was conducted separately from Min-ji.
'The proportion of combat technique classes has increased from this semester?'
The combat technique time, which was simple, has increased significantly.
It seems to be starting in earnest from the second semester.
"Has everyone arrived?"
An instructor with a grim expression entered the training hall. Just looking at his face, he looked like a murderer who had killed hundreds of people.
A deep wound near his right eye and scars filled the exposed skin.
The instructor's name is Go Deok-soo, a former B-Rank Hunter, and unlike his face, he's a pretty kind instructor.
"Good to see you all after a long time. Did you have a good vacation?"
"Yes!!"
The instructor looked at the students' faces and made eye contact with me.
"Hmm...? I don't think I've seen your face before. What's your name?"
"Kim Si-woo, sir."
It's good that my face has changed, but it's annoying that there are so many people who don't know me.
Go Deok-soo made an interesting expression when he heard my name.
"Okay, I've heard a lot about the sparring match yesterday. Come forward for a moment."
"Yes, sir."
As I stepped forward, Instructor Go Deok-soo patted my shoulder and scanned my Mana.
He looked at my face again with a surprised expression.
Then he laughed heartily, but it felt scary because of his real face.
"I was impressed by the sparring video. It seems like there have been many changes in the meantime."
This kind of thing kept happening because my face had changed.
The students who hadn't heard the rumors whispered because it was a class that other classes also attended.
I sighed with a tired expression.
__Wow... this is crazy.
__Is that really Kim Si-woo?
__Oh, my heart hurts...
[Favorability has increased.]
[Favorability has increased.]
Perhaps because of my charm stat, favorability was piling up randomly even if I just stood there posing or frowned a little.
Honestly, there's no harm in building favorability. They might help me in places I don't know about.
'Let's just bear with it.'
Min-ji had this kind of reaction at first, but she got a little better later.
"Okay, you're very good at using throwing weapons, can you show me your skills?"
Is he suddenly telling me to give a throwing demonstration?
"Suddenly?"
Go Deok-soo nodded as he took out a throwing weapon that looked like a shuriken from his pocket and placed it in my hand.
"Do you see that scarecrow over there? Can you hit it?"
"You want me to hit it now?"
"Is this distance difficult?"
"It's not that."
It's not that difficult, but I felt a strange nervousness because I was doing it in front of others.
It's 50m away, but this is easy.
A virtual trajectory was drawn in front of my eyes along with the feeling of Mana flowing through my arm.
[Accuracy is increased by the 'Throwing' skill.]
The shuriken flew as I imagined and hit the center of the scarecrow.
I practiced like crazy back then, so this is easy.
[Favorability has increased.]
"Hoo, better than expected."
When Go Deok-soo clapped, the other students started clapping along.
The guys felt annoyed, and the girls had a good reaction.
It wasn't a very difficult task, but it felt a little strange to receive applause like this.
"Everyone needs to practice using throwing weapons."
When Go Deok-soo operated the remote control, a flying monster appeared in the sky along with a hologram.
"When you go inside the Gate, you'll always have regrets."
"Well, my time is for swordsmanship class, so I won't give separate training, but it will be helpful to learn it."
Go Deok-soo took out another shuriken and threw three at once. Three shurikens were accurately embedded next to the shuriken I had received at once.
"I used this skill quite usefully too. I've even saved my life with it."
Go Deok-soo said that and talked about his experiences as a Hunter.
It was about how he dramatically defeated a flying monster with his throwing skills in a dangerous situation.
I wondered if he made me do it to say this.
"Then let's start the class now."
As always, I stood in front of the scarecrow and practiced swinging my sword.
Go Deok-soo made us hit the scarecrow for about 10 minutes every time he started class.
"Again!"
There were students who complained, but he said that if they could successfully swing it 10 times in the exact same motion without any error, they wouldn't have to do it.
Of course, there aren't that many students who succeed.
'Even the guys who succeeded are just swinging it as is.'
He said that it was a necessary exercise to use one's body perfectly without being conscious of it.
Honestly, I have complaints too, but since I gained the Swordsmanship skill, my understanding of swordsmanship has increased, so I understand why the basics are important.
[Movement is corrected by Elenen Empire Swordsmanship.]
A sword swung with the wrong posture would have reduced attack power and could cause injuries to the wrist or arm.
If I didn't have the basics in the sparring with Choi Tae-soo, I would never have been able to block the attack.
You have to be able to use the sword as you want without any consciousness.
[Movement is corrected by Elenen Empire Swordsmanship.]
Swinging it 10 times without error, drawing the same speed, power, and the same angle and trajectory, is a training that helps with that.
[Movement is corrected by Elenen Empire Swordsmanship.]
It's just a simple swing, but it was more fun than I thought.
[Proficiency in Elenen Empire Swordsmanship increases.]
Suddenly, I heard Go Deok-soo's voice from behind.
"You don't need the basics. You can train autonomously."
Did I succeed in swinging it the same way 10 times without me knowing?
"Instructor! I can't accept this!"
"What can't you accept?"
"It's strange that Kim Si-woo is passing when I didn't! As you know, Instructor, that guy--"
The face of the guy who was making ridiculous accusations was a little familiar.
Right, he was the guy who sparred in front of Min-ji, his name was Hong Ryu-seok or something.
'Is he the last place right now?'
I checked the ranking to see his score, and Hong Ryu-seok became the new last place.
Well, I have a strong mentality, so it doesn't matter, but it wasn't easy to endure the looks of contempt.
'His level was low when I saw him fighting.'
Hong Ryu-seok's face turned red and blue as if he had noticed my ridicule.
"This bug-like bastard is now--"
"Stop. I don't tolerate fighting during class."
That bastard started it first, and I was just standing still.
As much as I know the treatment of the last place, I can honestly forgive him with a generous heart.
Go Deok-soo smiled creepily and said.
"But sparring is okay. What do you both think?"
"I'm in!"
"No..."
Suddenly, I'm going to have a sparring match with a scrub.