Chapter 7

EP.7 No Matter Which Way, It's Still Seoul (1)

[Rune Hunter] is a fraudulent rune.

In a world where the power of runes is everything.

The ability to replicate an opponent's rune is an unconventional skill.

I have already obtained four runes with this rune, and as a result, I have gained considerable stats.

Including the runes obtained from hidden pieces, I now have over ten runes.

The information window, once barren, is now filled, and the path to growth, once uncertain, has become clear, which is a huge advantage.

Of course, [Rune Hunter] is not an all-powerful rune.

There is a prerequisite that you must win a duel, and even then, there is a limitation that you can only obtain one rune from the same opponent.

[Seeker's Sweat] and [Keen Insight].

These were the two Epic runes that Park Jin-woo had, and the decisive reason I could only obtain the former rune from him.

Additionally, there is the drawback that the level of the replicated rune decreases.

"And... the limits are clear."

I realized this while clearing out the Outholders.

There is a limit to improving my skills through repeated acquisition of runes with [Rune Hunter].

Even if you win a duel, if the opponent only has runes that you already possess, the effect of [Rune Hunter] becomes meaningless.

During this past week,

I obtained a total of three runes while clearing out the Outholders: [Combat], [Shield], and [Venom].

The rest were Normal runes like [Sword] or [Dagger], which I already had, so I couldn't obtain any new runes or gain any stat increases.

If I hadn't obtained the Rare rune [Venom] at the end, it would have been a waste of time to train instead.

"To grow further, I need to increase the level of my runes."

In other words, no matter how many runes you obtain,

the growth of a Holder ultimately depends on the growth of their runes.

I didn't bring [Seeker's Sweat] for nothing.

I need to focus on using and training my existing runes to grow my Holder information, rather than facing weak opponents to obtain miscellaneous runes.

If I grow and face stronger opponents,

I can use [Rune Hunter] more effectively and diversely than I do now.

"Why do you keep saying obvious things to yourself?"

Kim Chae-eun whispered from beside me.

We were in the Academy auditorium.

At the moment, a long speech welcoming the students was being given by the Dean.

"...It's boring. It's already been an hour. People are starting to mutter to themselves."

"That's true. Was the Dean a Mage?"

"Yeah. He retired from active duty, so he doesn't give lectures anymore, so you don't have to worry."

"Phew... That's a relief."

Kim Chae-eun is a Mage with the [Freezing] rune, so she almost had to listen to the Dean's lectures.

Just the speech is this boring; how bad would the lectures be?

I can roughly guess even without hearing them.

"Are you going to take Warrior classes, then?"

Kim Chae-eun suddenly asked, interrupting my muttering.

She also seemed to find the hour-long speech boring.

Warrior classes.

I want to take them too.

Seoul Holder Academy has many famous professors in the Warrior category.

But the Holder's category is determined at the time of enrollment.

"No. Obviously, I'm in the Assassin category. I use daggers, after all."

"Is that so? You fought almost like a Warrior in the practical combat."

"That's because my strength is a bit higher. Unlike other Assassins who focus on speed, it was more convenient for me to fight that way. I'll probably fight more like a proper Assassin once my speed improves."

The Academy's classes are divided into common and category-specific.

Common classes are, as the name suggests, lectures that all students attend.

They cover the history of Holders and runes, the basic theory of rune growth, the types and grades of monsters, and other theoretical knowledge that Holders need to know.

Especially important matters for Holders, such as the growth of endurance and spirit, and the utilization of mana, are highlighted in these common lectures.

Category-specific classes are lectures that only students in that category can attend.

A Holder in the Mage category cannot suddenly attend a lecture on archery.

It's a similar concept to the majors in universities.

Seoul Holder Academy has six categories in total.

Warrior, Mage, Archer, Assassin, Sacred, and Special.

These are the standardized Holder categories worldwide.

Seoul Academy follows this standard.

"Still, there will be a lot of overlap with Warrior classes, right?"

"Overlap?"

"Yeah. Unlike Mages or Archers, we have a lot in common."

For example, Professor Kim Myung-hyun's lecture on "The Momentum of Swords and Combat Breathing" can be attended by both the Warrior and Assassin categories.

Unlike other Warrior skills like blunt weapons or spear techniques, sword skills are similar to the Assassin category, and many Holders with the [Sword] rune enter the Assassin category.

Therefore, the two categories share many lectures.

In fact, some other academies combine the two categories into a single Warrior category.

"Heh- Anyway, it's great that we're in the intermediate class."

"What's the big difference?"

"Of course there is! We attend common lectures together...!"

As expected,

Park Jin-woo and I were assigned to the intermediate class after the practical combat of the entrance exam.

The professors seemed to think that our combat was quite impressive.

When transitioning from temporary to permanent classes,

we were the only ones whose classes changed.

Thanks to this, Kim Chae-eun and I are in the same intermediate class.

Although our categories are different, and our lectures are mostly separate, we can attend the same common lectures as she mentioned.

Common lectures are assigned from the advanced to the beginner classes.

The level of the class determines the lectures assigned.

The gap widens over time.

In the first year, there isn't much difference in the quality of the lectures, but by the third year, the lectures for the beginner classes are almost abandoned, and the professors lack enthusiasm in teaching.

...The Academy is a place that values strength above all.

"...Therefore, Seoul Holder Academy must become the best not only in Korea but also in the world. It must become a top-tier academy that does not bow to any country! This is what I am telling the students. ... ..."

The Dean is only saying such things.

In the previous world or the new world,

the framework for determining social status seems unchanged.

"Jae-hyun, Jae-hyun."

"Yeah?"

As I was lost in thought, Kim Chae-eun grabbed my collar.

Her face was full of anticipation, as if she had an idea.

Ah.

I got the feeling.

When Kim Chae-eun makes that face, there is only one request she makes.

"I want to eat guava."

"What, what kind of raw?"

"Guava! I saw it on SNS just now, and it looks so delicious. Hehe. Make it for me!"

"No... We don't even have a deep fryer at home. How can I make it, teacher?"

"Can't you just put oil in a big pot? I really want to eat what you make."

Now, Kim Chae-eun is even preparing how to make it.

She truly is the one who has grown her [Cooking] rune to level 3.

I sighed deeply and reluctantly nodded.

...To be honest,

I also wanted to eat guava.

"Bring 10 puddings."

"Yessir...!!"

* * *

The Academy's new semester began with the start of classes.

I sat in one corner of the lecture hall with a slightly excited heart.

I had always studied and trained runes alone, so the thought of having someone teach me seriously made my heart race.

The lecture I applied for today.

It is Professor Kim Myung-hyun's "The Momentum of Swords and Combat Breathing."

This is a theoretical and practical lecture on sword skills taught by Kim Chae-eun's father.

Professor Kim Myung-hyun is a character who did not appear in the original story.

Since Kim Chae-eun was an extra, it makes sense.

However, he has a surprisingly good reputation as a professor in the Academy.

He performs elegant and beautiful sword skills and teaches them gently at the students' level, often receiving praise as an educator.

Therefore, I applied for Professor Kim Myung-hyun's sword skills lecture as a category-specific lecture.

Although my core rune is [Dagger], the two runes have a similar nature, and I also have the [Sword] rune.

"Professor Tak Won-ho's class... probably won't work."

Of course, I was curious about the class of Park Jin-woo's teacher.

Tak Won-ho is a physical training professor who teaches students in a Spartan style, pushing Holders to their limits to draw out their potential.

His sword skills are particularly intense and destructive, inspiring both the observer and the learner.

However, I couldn't take Professor Tak Won-ho's class.

Unlike Professor Kim Myung-hyun's class, only students in the Warrior category can attend Professor Tak Won-ho's class, making it impossible to apply.

Even if I could apply, it would be difficult to get in because he is a very popular professor.

Moreover, the protagonist Park Jin-woo takes Professor Tak Won-ho's class, catches his eye, and becomes his exclusive disciple, which is a major plot point and a main storyline in the original.

I don't want to interfere and potentially alter the flow.

'Even though I did take the most important rune from the protagonist...'

It couldn't be helped.

I need to survive too.

Besides, it's just a copy, so it doesn't harm Park Jin-woo.

I resolved to focus.

As long as I don't interfere with the major plot points like "Tak Won-ho and Park Jin-woo's meeting" and "the appearance and defeat of a monster in the Academy," which are crucial to the early story and connect to the later parts, it should be fine.

While I was drawing a mind map alone,

the sound of someone roughly opening the lecture hall door was heard.

And immediately, a man entered the lecture hall.

"Hello, Joon-jae-hyun! There's about 10 minutes before the class starts, so let's have a match before then!"

At the entrance exam practical combat,

Park Jin-woo, who laughed like a madman at me, was standing at the door.

No.

Why is this guy here...?

He should be going to learn from Professor Tak Won-ho, damn it.