Chapter 31

EP.31 End-of-Semester Evaluation (1)

"Rich... "

Is this déjà vu?

But I can definitely say it.

I am rich.

This time, I'm really rich.

Rich enough to bathe in 50,000 won bills.

The dungeon in the basement of the Academy, which I risked my life to conquer.

The rewards were astronomical.

It was incomparable to the last time when we settled the loot from the lizardmen.

"A total of 1.68 billion won."

"Huh, how much?"

"1.68 billion won. The mana stones were all in good condition, so they were priced at 42 million won each."

Over 200 monsters hunted in the middle section.

B-grade mana stones from them.

My share was about 40.

When settled, it amounted to 1.68 billion won.

This was excluding the C-grade mana stones from the early section.

The reason for the exponential increase in earnings is simple.

The price of mana stones jumps significantly as their grade increases.

"What's the current market price for A-grade mana stones?"

"Good quality ones go for about 300 million won."

"..."

Conversely, the price drops significantly as the grade decreases.

D-grade mana stones are in the 2 million won range, and E-grade mana stones are in the 300,000 won range.

F-grade monsters don't even yield mana stones, so it's easy to understand how difficult life is for F-grade holders.

It's not surprising that maladjusted individuals like 'Outholders' appear.

"Jae-hyun, are you done?"

Kim Chae-eun approached and asked.

Unlike the last time when I came alone to settle the loot.

Today, she came with me to the Association.

She also needed to process the mana stones allocated to her and the rest room rewards.

"More or less? The quality was good, so it was processed quickly."

"I can't believe it. I've never handled such a large amount of money before."

"Didn't you go to the dungeon with your dad?"

This was unexpected.

Kim Chae-eun is the daughter of a well-known warrior professor, and I thought she would have a lot of dungeon experience.

She adapted well during this conquest.

But Kim Chae-eun rolled her eyes and said,

"My dad doesn't take me to such places. I barely got his permission this time."

So, this dungeon conquest was almost her first...

To adapt and achieve such results on her first dungeon conquest.

She must be a talented individual.

It was surprising that she didn't even appear by name in the original story, but now such cases are not uncommon.

Just among S-grade holders in Korea, one out of five became known after coming to this world.

There are many hidden strong individuals and runes that haven't been directly revealed.

This is why I no longer rely on the original content.

"Then what did you tell your dad? I doubt he would easily give permission given his personality."

"He gave permission when I told him I was going with you. Hmm... Holder Joon-ae-hyun is reliable. That's what I said to myself."

"What, really?"

Her imitation of my voice was surprisingly high-quality.

Kim Chae-eun clapped her hands as if she had just thought of something and continued,

"Oh! Did you sell the A-grade mana stones? The staff said they are very expensive."

"No, I have a use for them."

Selling them would certainly bring in money, but I can't use it where it's really needed.

The mana stone from the Grizzly Drake.

As I had expected...

It was the key to unlocking the seal on the [Forgotten Wyrm's Stone Plate].

After equipping the mana stone to the item and checking the information again, the (0/5) slot quickly changed to (1/5).

I still need to fill it four more times, but fortunately, I have a rough idea of where to find these mana stones.

Especially after this semester ends.

Soon, an S-grade monster, Swell Leviathan, will appear in front of the East Sea.

There's a high probability that it is one of the five wyrms.

'Of course, I can't catch it right now...'

Catching the A-grade Grizzly Drake was a stroke of luck.

Various situations combined, and I focused on its weakness, using the [Phantom Heaven Sword] that exceeded my limits.

Now, the [Phantom Heaven Sword] is restricted and can't be used.

So, it would be impossible to hunt it again.

Let alone an S-grade monster.

With my current C-grade abilities, there's no way I could catch it.

'Of course, there are other ways.'

Hunting an S-grade monster.

It's difficult for me right now, but...

Someone else can do it for me.

The important thing is the mana stone.

If I can't hunt it directly.

I just need to obtain the mana stone indirectly.

A typical example of an indirect method is capital.

"Chae-eun."

"Yes?"

"Shall we go to the dungeon once a week? To improve our skills and earn some money."

"Two, two of us?"

"Yes. We have experience now, and two people are enough."

A great means and partner to accumulate capital.

Fortunately, they are very close.

* * *

Every Wednesday is the day I receive exclusive lectures from Professor Tack Won-ho.

After everyone finishes their classes and leaves for their homes in the evening.

Professor Tack Won-ho and I stay in the training ground.

Continuing endless training.

"Haah...!!"

"Reduce the shouting and make your sword faster. Phantom is different from Flowing Water. It's not a flowing wave but a surging tide. You need to feel it with your body, not your mind. You need to internalize it."

"Yes, I understand-ah!!"

Professor Tack Won-ho's teachings are always harsh.

Pushing the body to the limit.

Until I unconsciously achieve enlightenment.

A kind of Spartan education.

But thanks to this, I could achieve the growth of [Phantom Sword Technique] faster than anyone else and use [Phantom Heaven Sword] in extreme, life-threatening situations.

His strict teaching method proved to be correct.

"Stab with more force. Make channeling mana into your sword a habit."

"Yes!"

Endless personal training and correction related to [Phantom Sword Technique].

And direct sparring with Professor Tack Won-ho.

When the training, which has no set time, finally ends.

It's finally time to rest.

"Enough. That's it for today."

"Huff, huff, thank you."

"You've worked hard. Your endurance is still lacking, though."

"Huff, I don't have the relevant runes... huff."

A holder's stamina and endurance are not activated in their abilities.

They need to be improved through personal effort or by possessing relevant runes.

In holder battles where victory or defeat is quickly decided by the difference in runes and abilities, stamina and endurance are not very important... but they are necessary for long-term training.

Since even Professor Tack Won-ho mentioned it...

I need to get the relevant runes soon.

"I read all the conquest reports by yesterday. You did a remarkable job."

"The team members helped a lot. The party composition was good, so we could respond to variables immediately."

"Despite that, you wrote about your performance during the boss conquest without holding back."

"...Without [Phantom Sword Technique], it would have been difficult."

"You've become quite the flatterer."

Professor Tack Won-ho's lips were slightly upturned.

...It seems I was right again.

"Anyway, you've worked hard. You learned [Phantom Heaven Sword] during the boss conquest?"

"Yes. The skill I couldn't succeed in even once after you taught me... I managed to use it for the first time during the boss conquest. But my holder information says it's restricted."

"Hmm..."

Professor Tack Won-ho stroked his chin and continued.

"Probably, Joon-ae-hyun, you're still not ready to handle [Phantom Heaven Sword]. It's an ultimate skill that requires the [Phantom Sword Technique] rune level to be at least 10 and the mana value in your abilities to be at least 30."

"Does it require that much mana?"

"Are you asking something obvious? It's almost the only mana-related skill in [Phantom Sword Technique]."

My current mana value is 9.

I need a lot more to reach the minimum requirement of 30.

Now I understand why I fainted in a state of exhaustion after catching the Grizzly Drake.

I used all the remaining mana in my body to use [Phantom Heaven Sword], trying to make up for the lack of mana.

Using a technique beyond my limits, I was completely drained.

'The range of runes I need to obtain has widened.'

I need to get runes related to mana as well.

It's time to start increasing my mana value.

Unlike before when I only used weapons.

Now, I am advancing to a mid-level holder who uses mana in combat.

"Anyway, congratulations. I told you about it just in case, but I didn't think you could actually do it. Professor Kim Myung-hyun would be surprised to hear this. Haha."

"Thank you."

I was secretly surprised.

Professor Tack Won-ho, who is usually stingy with praise, giving such enthusiastic congratulations was unexpected.

It seems that using [Phantom Heaven Sword] with my current abilities was indeed a remarkable feat.

Professor Tack Won-ho, while tidying up the training ground equipment, asked,

"Are you preparing well for the end-of-semester evaluation?"

"End-of-semester... Oh."

I realized the end-of-semester evaluation was approaching.

The end-of-semester evaluation is different from the grades given based on theoretical assessments in each lecture.

It is a 'practical sparring' to measure the combat power of holders, determine promotions or demotions in the intermediate and advanced classes, and decide the overall ranking of holders.

It is similar to the practical sparring during the Academy entrance exam.

The difference this time is that the opponents are matched, not designated, and some special holders related to production are excluded from the evaluation.

The overall ranking itself is a meaningful indicator only for direct combat holders.

'An important evaluation.'

It is a significant event in the original story.

It is the sparring where Park Jin-woo, a passionate holder, first stands out among his peers and professors, and where Lee Tae-jun, the top-ranked warrior and perennial second overall, is inevitably defeated by Kang Joo-yeon.

It is an evaluation that shows the growth of the main characters in the early stages.

But there is one more important event.

'An Do-gwan.'

The second-ranked warrior and a top-ranked holder.

An Do-gwan.

Actually, a spy of the <Villain> clan who infiltrated as a freshman.

A dragon-riding assassin, Ji Yun-jae's comrade.

An Do-gwan, following the clan's orders, murders a fellow mage holder during this end-of-semester evaluation.

A murder that happens in an instant during a sparring match.

The beginning of the <Villain> clan's serious disruption of the Academy.

An Do-gwan is a discard card for this purpose.

By causing a sudden murder during a sparring match, a well-known holder in the advanced class, the Academy falls into chaos again after the appearance of internal monsters.

Recalling this series of events.

I slowly nodded.

"I can win against anyone."

"I like your lack of false modesty."

I was confident I could win against anyone.

My current abilities are already at the level of an advanced class, C-grade holder.

With the growth of runes and combat sense from dungeon conquests, I have reached the limit.

Whether it's the intermediate or advanced class.

No matter who my opponent is.

It's just daily bread for [Rune Hunter].

'If possible, I'd like to face someone with runes related to stamina or mana.'

The end-of-semester evaluation.

It's a legal opportunity to tear out runes.