Chapter 2334 – 2334. Savior Of The Academy
The mid-term written exam at Maruhan Academy.
I scanned the test paper placed on my desk.
The first question.
〈1. Choose the reason why King Hydra’s scales are valuable.〉
(1) King Hydra is an S-class monster, so its byproducts, including scales, are valuable.
(2) King Hydra’s scales are hard metal.
(3) It is easy to imbue magic into King Hydra’s scales.
(4) King Hydra’s scales are poisonous.
(5) King Hydra’s scales do not decay.
‘Damn it. I’m not a merchant, why do I need to know this?’
But I knew the answer.
King Hydra was a monster that appeared frequently in the latter half of the original story. The scales, a junk item obtained from killing King Hydra, were a good source of income.
‘The answer is 2. King Hydra’s scales are hard and have metallic properties, making them excellent metal in themselves.’
As for the other questions, nothing came to mind. It was natural since I hadn’t paid any attention during the theory classes.
‘I’ll stick to the original plan.’
[Opening the Heavenly Eye.]
I check the answer sheets of other students. I mainly look at Ryu Hana, Kim Chun-woo, and Choi Da-yeon. The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place students.
Ryu Hana is in a different class, but it doesn’t matter since I have activated the Heavenly Eye. I can change my viewpoint or even see through things.
Kim Chun-woo, who can be called the real protagonist of the original game, and Choi Da-yeon, the daughter of a conglomerate with high pride.
‘They’re good at studying. Let’s leech off them.’
As expected of students who are good at studying, they write down the answers without hesitation. There was a question that Namgung Hwa-yeon had taught me, but… I couldn’t remember the answer.
‘…There are questions where the answers are different.’
This was troublesome. But I was prepared.
The mid-term exam questions are ultimately based on the textbook content. The exam range is also fixed.
I shifted my viewpoint to the dormitory. I had Shim Eun-ji put up the textbook content on the dormitory walls. All I had to do was find the correct answers. It might take some time, but it wasn’t a problem.
[Using Moment. Remaining stacks: 11]
‘The answer is… found it.’
I write down the correct answers.
First place in the written exam is mine.
• • •
What’s important at the academy is the practical exam. The types and content of the practical exam change each time, but… the pattern was ultimately fixed.
The practical combat instructor at the academy began briefing the first-year students.
“The practical exam for the second semester mid-term is Heroes vs. Villains. You will take on the role of either a hero or a villain within a special barrier controlled by the academy and carry out your respective missions for three hours. The exam will be observed by our faculty, and your judgment, mission execution, and combat abilities will be comprehensively assessed to determine your score. Be aware that the situation inside the barrier will be recorded.”
I saw Shim Eun-ji, dressed in academy staff attire, in the corner. There were dark circles under her eyes. She was being worked to the bone in real-time.
The instructor continued the briefing.
“The Aurora Simulator will be applied to this exam. You can fight with all your might. Do not reveal your roles and missions to others before the start of the exam. This is a piece of advice for you.”
“Instructor! How are the hero and villain roles divided?!”
One of the students asked.
“The hero and villain roles will be determined by a lottery. To ensure fairness, the lottery will be conducted analogically. The top-ranked students of each grade, come forward. After the lottery, no more chatter. Everyone, be silent.”
I was the top-ranked student. I went to the instructor. The method was to put your hand in a box and draw a lot.
‘Please, be a villain.’
When no one was looking, I opened the paper.
The mission was a bank robbery. It was a trivial task.
The students, under the control of the faculty, quietly sized each other up. Some students had meaningful smiles. They were the ones who had talked beforehand.
They might think they’re being smart, but… it’s a foolish choice. The faculty aren’t fools. They will receive a huge deduction for cheating.
“The top-ranked students will enter the special barrier first. Follow the staff’s instructions.”
I entered the special barrier. It was a small city. The staff left me in a park and said,
“An announcement will begin when you are ready. Please wait here until then.”
“Yes.”
The staff disappeared. I sat on a bench and spaced out.
-The exam will begin.
The exam started, and suddenly people appeared in the quiet park.
They were fakes created by the Aurora Simulator. The Aurora Simulator could overlay the virtual onto reality.
‘The exam is three hours. I can take my time.’
Bang!
Less than five minutes later, an explosion rang out nearby.
“Kyaaaaah!”
People screamed and disappeared somewhere. They weren’t going home, of course. They disappeared in a flash where they couldn’t be seen. The remaining citizens were virtual humans with special roles.
‘I saw the location of the bank on my way here. Do I need to make a plan?’
I was confident that I could win against all the first-year students in a head-on fight. After a moment of thought, I came to a conclusion. Let’s just move openly.
The bank is visible in the distance.
I took out an RPG-7 and fired it at the bank. The rocket flew through the air and hit the bank entrance, exploding.
Ignoring the people who were collapsing or panicking, I went inside and grabbed a gold bar.
‘That’s the end of the mission. All that’s left is to kill time.’
As I was about to escape, a familiar-looking female student appeared and blocked my path.
“Not so fast.”
A woman with light purple hair who uses dual swords. It was Ryu Hana, the second-ranked student.
“Ryu Hana. Move. You can’t stop me in your current state. Fighting me here will only mess up your grades. You need to stay within the top 10, right?”
“A hero doesn’t run away when facing a villain. And the current me is different from the past.”
[Using Moment. Remaining stacks: 11]
Thunder Sky Style, Flying Thunder God.
I instantly closed the distance with Ryu Hana. Ryu Hana, surprised by my sudden appearance, tried to swing her dual swords, but she was too slow. I grabbed her by the collar and slammed her into the ground with lightning.
Crack.
Sparks flew from her unconscious body.
A staff member appeared and took the unconscious Ryu Hana outside. Unfortunately, it seemed like Ryu Hana’s mid-term exam was ruined.
‘She didn’t even get to show her skills properly, so she probably fell outside the top 200 this time?’
Anyway, Ryu Hana must have learned a lesson from this. That a hero shouldn’t recklessly step in front of a villain.
I headed to the park. I sat on a bench and spaced out. This exam was ridiculously boring for me. I didn’t feel motivated to do anything.
“You were here.”
I turned my head towards the voice, and there was Kim Chun-woo. With his neat appearance, he held a greatsword in one hand and took a fighting stance.
“Ryu Hana tried to fight me and got crushed… Are you going to be stupid like her?”
“I know I can’t win. But I can’t help it since my role is a hero. I can’t run away with a villain in front of me.”
“You and Ryu Hana seem to be mistaken that you can do anything just because you’re heroes… I’ll teach you the reality this time.”
“I’m not the same as before. I’ll show you. The grown-up me.”
Grown-up, huh. I checked Kim Chun-woo’s status window after a long time.
『Name: Kim Chun-woo
Strength: C- Stamina: D- Agility: E+ Durability: D Mana: A
Trait: Holy War (S+).
Skills: Greatsword Technique (B-), Holy Spirit (A).
Trust: 52』
‘He really has grown.’
His stats, except for mana, had increased. Also, the rank of Holy War had risen, and he had even obtained the skill Holy Spirit.
‘I can’t believe he got Holy Spirit.’
This was surprising. Holy Spirit was one of the most difficult skills to obtain in the original story. At the same time, Holy Spirit was a difficult skill to use.
“Declaration of Holy War.”
Kim Chun-woo muttered. Golden light flowed from his body. Seeing him use Holy War in a calm state without using anger or hatred, he had definitely grown. The holy power soon gathered on Kim Chun-woo’s greatsword.
『The Demon Hunter (SS) is reacting to Holy War (S+).』
『The possessed demonic power weakens.』
Kim Chun-woo’s power, which was the extreme opposite of demons, affected the demonic power. Fortunately, it didn’t affect anything else.
Kim Chun-woo then used Holy Spirit. Light flowed from his body. His eyes momentarily flickered.
‘He’s probably hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit right now.’
You, the chosen one, may divinity dwell within you. A voice like that.
Soon, a glowing halo appeared above Kim Chun-woo’s head.
It meant that he had successfully received the buff from Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit was one of the top-tier buff skills in the original story. The more good karma accumulated, the stronger the buff became. Allies could also receive the buff from Holy Spirit. The downside was that enemies could also receive the buff. However, demons and fiends could not receive the buff.
‘Well, just because he got a Holy Spirit buff doesn’t mean a worm becomes a dragon.’
I summoned the sword provided by the academy and held it in my hand.
That’s when it happened. Light emanated from my body, and a voice was heard.
『You, the one who lives a second life. Only you have experienced it, and only you remember it.』
The light of the Holy Spirit gathered above my head and became a halo.
Kim Chun-woo was flustered. He widened his eyes and opened his mouth. He seemed not to know what to do.
『You, the one born of a pure virgin, the whole world blesses you.』
The halo above my head shone. At this point, my halo was already shining brighter than Kim Chun-woo’s.
『You, son of the Lord, the path to salvation is long and arduous, but the Lord will protect you.』
The spirit’s words did not end. But it couldn’t speak as if something was blocking it. It was because Kim Chun-woo’s Holy Spirit rank was only A.
But this was enough for now.
I felt the divinity overflowing from my body and pointed my finger at Kim Chun-woo.
“Let there be light!”
A beam of light shot from my fingertip and struck Kim Chun-woo. Kim Chun-woo lost consciousness and fainted, and the Holy Spirit was released. The halos and divinity above me and him disappeared.
