NOVEL WEB Chapter 8: A Different Start
< Chapter 8: A Different Start (1) >
The atmosphere in the room was getting more and more hostile.
“Get out of the way, Shin Jia. I have something to say to him.”
“What if I don’t?”
Sparks seemed to fly between the two eyes.
“Four years. What’s your relationship with him?”
“Well. We’re both top students, so we talked a bit.”
“Hmph. Nonsense. There’s no way you’d get involved in this situation for such a trivial reason.”
“That’s your opinion.”
The two chaebol heirs growled at each other.
No, rather than being aware of their surroundings, they seemed to be watching a trashy drama.
I have to somehow get out of this situation.
“Ji Hoon. Stop it. You went too far.”
“Yeah, Jasha!”
Just then, Ha Shi Yeon and Kim Chul Jin stepped in and tried to stop Choi Ji Hoon.
This is my chance.
I poked Shin Jia’s spine lightly. Then I whispered very quietly
‘Just hold on for a bit.’
She turned her head slightly and looked at me. She bit her tongue as if she had no choice.
She seemed to have put aside her fighting spirit for now.
“But he’s definitely hiding something. If we don’t figure it out, we’ll have trouble living in the future…”
Choi Ji Hoon was making excuses in front of Ha Shi Yeon.
“Then why don’t you talk nicely? What’s that?”
“I was being nice.”
“…That?”
Ha Shi Yeon and Choi Ji Hoon’s relationship was a bit complicated.
Ha Shi Yeon’s family belonged to a company under Choi Ji Hoon’s Suseong Group.
Looking at their positions alone, it would be normal for Choi Ji Hoon to boss Ha Shi Yeon around like a secretary, but the reality was the opposite.
Ha Shi Yeon was the only one who could stop Choi Ji Hoon’s reckless temper, apart from his family.
“Anyway, apologize properly, including for not apologizing properly last time.”
“…I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Choi Ji Hoon muttered as he turned his head slightly.
“You really!”
Just before Ha Shi Yeon exploded.
Clap clap clap-
A loud applause sounded from the entrance of the classroom.
“Good. It’s a very good atmosphere from the first day.”
Everyone’s eyes turned in that direction.
A man was standing there.
Short sports cut, bulky muscles.
A man wearing a small iron necklace that didn’t match his appearance.
“It’s over? It was quite fun watching the fight between the two chaebols.”
I know that man.
I saw him briefly on the first day of the entrance ceremony.
He is an active superhuman and an instructor in charge of class 1-1. Pi Jin Ho.
When did he start watching?
“By the way, Choi Ji Hoon. You were saying something interesting.”
The instructor walked up to the podium and leaned on it.
“Kang Seo Yul is pretending to be an F-rank and hiding his abilities. Wasn’t that it?”
His sharp eyes scanned me as if he was observing me.
Then he smiled faintly and shook his head.
“Let me ask you first. Why do you think that?”
“…Three days ago. There was an accident by chance. Then, he wielded a black iron greatsword. With one hand.”
“I see. So you think Kang Seo Yul is hiding his abilities? Hmm. That’s a reasonable argument.”
“Yes…”
“But.”
Pi Jin Ho crossed his arms and cocked his head arrogantly.
“Does Kang Seo Yul need to hide his abilities?”
“That’s because. To infiltrate this academy quietly…”
“Oh really? Kang Seo Yul is either a spy from another country or a villain?”
Choi Ji Hoon nodded slightly.
“Yes. If that’s the case, he should have hidden his appearance as much as possible, but he sat in the conspicuous position of being the top student in writing.”
Pi Jin Ho chuckled as if he found it amusing.
“So, he voluntarily claimed to be an all-F rank to avoid attention. Is that what you’re saying?”
“That, that is…”
Choi Ji Hoon’s eyes trembled. The teacher is really good at talking.
“But how do you explain him wielding a black iron greatsword if he’s not hiding his abilities!”
Choi Ji Hoon raised his voice again.
“Suseong Group’s eldest son Choi Ji Hoon.”
Pi Jin Ho’s voice was low and heavy.
“What you know is not everything in the world.”
Pi Jin Ho looked at me and asked casually.
“Kang Seo Yul. I know it’s rude to ask about someone else’s status window. But I’m sure you don’t want to be branded as a liar either. So I’ll take the liberty of asking you.”
“Yes.”
“Wielding a black iron greatsword. Is it the power of your trait?”
Indeed.
Is that how you decided to judge me? Well, that’s fine by me.
“Yes. That’s right.”
“Thank you.”
Pi Jin Ho bowed slightly.
It was a bow of apology for asking for information about my status window, which was rude.
I liked him as a teacher when I read the novel, but I like him, even more, when I see him in person.
“As you heard, Kang Seo Yul wielded a black iron greatsword with the power of his trait.”
The surrounding cadets murmured.
They all looked like they wondered if there was such a trait.
“Among the traits of my acquaintances, there is one called ‘Carrier.’ It’s a unique trait that allows you to ignore the equipment restrictions and literally ‘carry’ them for a certain period of time.”
“That’s the trait that inspired the equipment transportation system.”
Shin Jia answered.
“You’re well-informed. That’s right.”
There was an exclamation from the surroundings.
“Like this, there are traits that ignore the equipment restrictions. I know at least two of them.”
“I see.”
The cadets all nodded as if they were convinced.
“Besides, why would he hide his abilities when he entered the superhuman officer academy?”
“Right. It’s better to get attention from the start if you think about what happens after graduation.”
I sighed with relief.
To be honest, it wasn’t that I had no way to solve it.
It’s just that it was easier to solve it because a verified authority, the teacher, directly defended me.
“Anyway, if you’re all convinced, sit down. Half of the time allotted to me has already run out.”
“Yes!”
The cadets all sat down in an orderly manner.
Only Choi Ji Hoon still had a dissatisfied expression on his face.
“And Kang Seo Yul.”
“Yes?”
The teacher looked a bit complicated as he clenched the iron necklace around his neck.
“…No. I’ll talk to you later.”
Anyway, the unexpected black iron greatsword incident was easily resolved.
* * *
After all the classes on Wednesday,
Pi Jin Ho was having a conversation in the director’s office.
“I received a request from Suseong Group’s secretary to investigate the suspicion of false ability report on cadet Kang Seo Yul.”
“…Choi Ji Hoon.”
“That’s right.”
Pi Jin Ho smiled bitterly.
Even after I said that it ended up like this.
“So, instructor Pi Jin Ho. What do you think? Do you think Kang Seo Yul is really hiding his abilities?”
“…No. There is no possibility of that.”
Pi Jin Ho was firm.
“Why?”
“I saw Kang Seo Yul shooting a bow with my own eyes.”
“Oh. The archery that the archery instructor praised. So what about it?”
Pi Jin Ho recalled Kang Seo Yul’s shooting.
“During the last 2km shooting. Kang Seo Yul’s arms were shaking like crazy.”
“What about the possibility of acting?”
“Don’t you know what my trait is, director?”
“That’s right.”
The director nodded as if he was convinced.
“Rather, his strength is likely to be below F. His muscle movement was weaker than I imagined.”
The director laughed grimly.
“But it’s awkward to ignore Suseong Group’s request. How about we do a precise ability test on Kang Seo Yul student, at least formally?”
“No. Please settle this matter at the director’s level.”
The director’s eyes widened.
“Is there a reason?”
“Yes.”
Pi Jin Ho’s eyes sharpened.
“Tell me.”
“Kang Seo Yul. There is a possibility that he has the trait of [Weapon Master].”
“…Did you just say, Weapon Master?”
The director’s face turned pale.
“Abnormally low abilities. An abnormal trait that allows him to wield a black iron greatsword. And an overwhelming archery talent. Doesn’t one come to mind?”
The director muttered with a serious expression.
“Weapon Master…”
“Yes. Kang Seo Yul may have the seed of that.”
Pi Jin Ho’s wife, Weapon Master Kang Min Ji, had returned to nature.
Kang Seo Yul’s current appearance was surprisingly similar to Kang Min Ji’s case.
“As long as there is even a slight possibility that he will become a Weapon Master, it is not right to create a situation where he becomes emotionally twisted with him.”
* * *
After class.
I was chatting with Shin Jia in my room.
[Ancestor. Choi Ji Hoon seems to have used Suseong to put pressure on the academy.]
[That’s annoying.]
If this happens, the director will have to summon me because he has to take care of Suseong.
[Can you do anything about it from Shinwa’s side?]
[Yes. Of course. Leave it to me! (Rabbit emoticon with confidence)]
It might raise suspicion that there is some connection between Shinwa Group and me,
But it’s better than getting something like a precise status window test.
[And what about the equipment you mentioned last time?]
I asked Shin Jia to find out if she could get the special equipment with racial restrictions that I saw at the department store last time.
[I’m sorry. That might be a bit difficult. Those equipment are affiliated with the nation.]
[I see.]
It’s troublesome to buy artifacts that are affiliated with the nation.
[And also. They are too expensive for me to buy with my allowance (sad rabbit emoticon)]
[…Ah.]
I didn’t ask anymore.
If it’s too much for a chaebol third generation, how much is it?
[Anyway, thank you.]
[No! This is nothing!]
I can imagine Shin Jia’s sparkling eyes.
What will happen when she finds out that I’m not an elf later?
Will I die?
[Then, ancestor! Good night!]
[You too.]
That was the end of the chat.
* * *
The first class on Thursday was a theory class.
“You guys probably know this, but the main missions of superhumans are divided into three categories. Cadet Kang Seo Yul. Can you answer?”
I got up from my seat and said quietly.
“Monster extermination. Rescue of lives. Villain elimination.”
“That’s correct. And the most dangerous one is villain elimination. Today, I’m going to talk about that.”
This world is full of villains, as in other novels.
There are solo criminals like Piale Aro, and villain groups that will appear in the middle part.
“Exterminating monsters is not a difficult task. The methods of dealing with monsters are somewhat standardized. Unless there are mutants, new monsters, or disaster-level monsters, it’s not very dangerous.”
The teacher’s expression became serious.
“But villains are different. You remember the Piale Aro incident, right? His ability is still unknown, but it is reported that he incapacitated even S-rank superhumans in that incident. If it weren’t for the unidentified ‘hero’, a disaster would have occurred.”
Suddenly, Shin Jia’s head turned sharply. She looked at me with a sparkling gaze.
As if she was saying ‘As expected, ancestor!’
Her eyes are burdensome.
“There are many villains who have special abilities like that. They are very tricky and dangerous to fight.”
That’s true.
Among the villains I remember, there are at least ten villains who make me think ‘Wow, isn’t that a balance breaker?’
“The goal of our academy is one. After four years, you will be strong enough to survive against any villains. So please trust the instructor and follow him well.”
Pi Jin Ho instructor and that instructor,
They only say good things.
It’s a good academy.
But unfortunately, there is one wrong thing.
…Four years later?
There will be a villain attack inside the Korean Superhuman Academy in a week.