Chapter 33

EP.33 End-of-Semester Evaluation (3)

The day of the end-of-semester evaluation had arrived.

The academy was bustling with first-year students who were tense from early morning.

The training ground was already packed, and many were practicing mock duels, speculating about their opponents.

"Jae-hyun! Over here, over here!"

"......"

When I arrived at the examination hall with Chae-eun,

Ga-eun had already secured a prime spot.

A place where she could watch other students' duels and be ready to step in when her name was called.

Indeed, no one could match Ga-eun in such matters.

Her speed in securing a spot was different.

Naturally, her best friend Joo-yeon was beside her...

And in the corner, Jin-woo had taken his place.

"Wow! You finally made it."

Why are you here again?

"How did you find out and come here, Jin-woo?"

"Ah, really. Don't even mention it. If I stick around where you guys are, I can see you, Jae-hyun. I've been here since earlier."

Ga-eun explained with a look of exasperation.

Indeed, Jin-woo.

True to his passionate nature, he doesn't seem to mind the disdainful looks from Ga-eun and Joo-yeon.

He's a guy who deserves credit for his persistence.

"Hahaha. Since I don't have any friends anyway, watching with Jae-hyun is the best option."

"Boastful. Ugh. My dad is already driving me crazy by insisting on setting up a match for me today."

"Match? What kind of match?"

I couldn't help but ask, taken aback by Ga-eun's sudden comment.

The first-year students at the current academy are mostly twenty years old, just entering adulthood.

Why would a match be set up for a twenty-year-old?

But it seemed she was under a lot of stress.

Ga-eun's forehead furrowed even more.

"I don't know. My dad is really weird. He wants me to meet the successor of the 'Sunset Flower' clan, and it's so annoying."

'Sunset Flower' is a mid-level clan that has been rising recently.

Though not on the scale of the three major clans, it is a rising power that has been building its influence in the country by leveraging its unique characteristics.

If it's the successor of that clan, it's probably Jung Hyun-seok, a warrior in the second year of the academy.

He's about our age, just a year older.

Feeling something was off,

I tilted my head and asked.

"Is it just a blind date?"

"Is there such a thing as a blind date set up by my dad! When adults do it, it's always a match."

"Is that so?"

"It's not like the Joseon era. If I don't want it, why does he keep insisting... Huh. Joo-yeon, isn't it pitiful?"

"......"

Joo-yeon seemed quite familiar with the situation.

She casually ignored Ga-eun's words.

Then she slowly waved at me.

"...Hi."

Huh?

Did she just greet me?

I awkwardly waved back.

"Y-Yeah. Hi."

While greeting Joo-yeon?

If it wasn't for Ga-eun, this would be really rare.

I can feel Chae-eun gripping my collar tightly, but...

It must be a misunderstanding.

We went to an empty seat and sat down.

"Wow. It's been a while since we all gathered like this. Almost a month, right?"

Jin-woo stretched and said.

Come to think of it, these were the members we had done dungeon runs with.

Five of us gathered in one place.

Though I had done a few dungeon runs with Chae-eun since then...

This was the first time all the initial members were together.

Maybe because we had faced life and death together.

Or maybe because they were the ones I used to like.

I felt a much stronger sense of intimacy with them compared to other students.

"Did everyone prepare well for the evaluation?"

Today's end-of-semester evaluation.

It determines whether you advance or are demoted, and there are changes in the ranking within the year.

When I brought up this topic, Ga-eun's expression turned particularly sour.

"Not at all. Since the matching of opponent classes is random, it's really disadvantageous for archers. I'm already stressed because my dad keeps setting up matches, so this is double the stress."

"It's not a match but a blind date."

"Whatever...!!"

Ga-eun is right.

In this type of duel, she is at a disadvantage.

Archers shine more in team battles where they form a party and move together.

If she faces a fast warrior,

the match is over right away.

Of course, losing a duel isn't a huge problem.

The end-of-semester evaluation includes not only the duel but also subject evaluations for each class.

"......"

Joo-yeon, who had been listening to us quietly,

nodded slightly with a calm face.

The only B-rank holder in the first year.

Just that title alone gives off a sense of authority.

There are hardly any opponents in the entire academy, so the end-of-semester evaluation should be easy for her.

Even without much preparation, her confidence is understandable.

Jin-woo is the same.

He showed his usual confidence with a carefree expression.

"Whoever comes, it doesn't matter! But there is someone I want to face."

"Who?"

"What's the point of asking! It's you, Jae-hyun. Hahaha."

"Ah, come on. Don't you get tired of it?"

"Not at all! Every moment is fun! Each time feels new."

What, is he Park Ji-sung or something...?

We've fought over twenty times since the entrance exam, but Jin-woo still seems hungry for more.

In the original story, there was no competitor who could ignite Jin-woo's passion to this extent, but now it feels like his growth has expanded since I got involved.

As evidence, he is showing skills beyond the current point in the original story without even learning the [Phantom Sword Technique].

It's not just the protagonist's talent.

Of course, if we fight now, I will win.

I'm growing at a similar pace.

-Now, we will begin the end-of-semester evaluation for the first year of the Seoul Holder Academy. This includes the final duel evaluation. Students who do not come to the examination hall when called will be disqualified. Please be aware of this.

At that moment, the supervisor in the center of the examination hall picked up the microphone.

"Oh, it's starting."

"Ugh, I'm nervous."

"Please, a mage class, please...!!"

The students in the waiting area started to murmur.

In fact, when the class matchups are considered, professors take everything into account during the evaluation.

If it's disadvantageous, more points are given.

If it's advantageous, fewer points are given.

Like the student next to me praying for a mage class, there's no need to specifically desire a class matchup.

But the desire to win by any means is strong.

-This is the first match. The holder of the advanced archer class, Ga-eun, and the holder of the advanced mage class, Eom Cha-sik. Please come to the examination hall.

Is there really a person named Eom Cha-sik?

I hesitated for a moment, but...

In any case, the first match was Ga-eun's duel.

The evaluation started with a match between advanced classes.

But the match was more one-sided than expected.

Unlike when she pretended to cry in front of us, Ga-eun showed no signs of tension during the match and displayed her true skills.

Using [Dolphin's Sound Wave] to quickly analyze the opponent's magic and countering with superior speed.

The match concluded with her signature skill, [Extreme Shot].

As a holder with the [Wind Archer] rune.

Ga-eun showed a high-level archer class match.

"Indeed, Ga-eun is different."

"To be the top archer, she has to be this good."

"Ga-eun will probably go straight to a royal clan after graduation."

The surrounding classmates were all impressed by her performance.

Joo-yeon, who often shows strong performances, is sometimes forgotten, but Ga-eun is also one of the top students in the advanced class.

"She's doing well."

"......"

Even Joo-yeon, who is usually stingy with praise, agreed to this extent.

With the first match leading the way, the evaluation duels continued.

Advanced class vs. advanced class, advanced class vs. intermediate class.

Intermediate class vs. intermediate class, intermediate class vs. beginner class, etc...

The class and level matchups were random.

However, since the gap between advanced and beginner classes is too large, they were excluded from the matching settings.

-This is the eleventh match. The holder of the intermediate assassin class, Jae-hyun, and the holder of the advanced warrior class, Kim Hyo-won. Please come to the examination hall.

"Ah! What a pity."

My name was called, and Jin-woo, who was next to me, let out a sigh.

Jin-woo hasn't been matched yet.

He seems disappointed that his opponent isn't me.

Actually, I'm a bit disappointed too.

I don't know much about the holder Kim Hyo-won, but I've heard that he's around the bottom of the advanced class.

I want to face a stronger opponent.

Facing an intermediate class holder is better than nothing, but I really want to face a strong opponent to check my own skills.

Considering the [Rune Hunter], it would also help me get better runes.

'For example, someone like Ji Yun-jae...'

I secretly hope to face Ji Yun-jae or An Do-gwon.

I want to gauge Ji Yun-jae's skills...

And while An Do-gwon is a slightly dangerous opponent, it's better for me to face him than for an innocent student to die.

Still, with the opponent decided,

I have to do my best.

"Holders, please greet each other and prepare for the match."

Following the supervisor's instructions, I and Kim Hyo-won shook hands.

But this Kim Hyo-won seems to have a more active personality than I thought.

After the handshake, he came closer to me...

and lightly patted my shoulder, saying,

"Let's have a fair match, Jae-hyun."

"......? Oh, oh."

He has a friendliness level like Jin-woo.

To be so friendly with an opponent I have to face in a duel.

I awkwardly responded and immediately prepared for the battle.

The dagger at my waist and the longsword on my back.

All my main weapons are ready.

The fact that I am a multi-holder is already well-known.

Even if I use both weapons at the same time here...

no one would find it strange.

After confirming our preparations, the supervisor gave the signal to start.

"Match, begin."

Pfft, whoosh-!

True to his active personality, his fighting style is also relentless.

As soon as the start signal sounded, Kim Hyo-won