Chapter 18
A few days passed after the Student Council interview.
The internal injuries I had suffered from using the Asura Divine Art had mostly healed, thanks to the power of Restoration.
Though I had joined the Student Council, there wasn’t much change in my daily life.
There was still time before the real events began.
I spent that time the same way as before — training and attending classes.
After class, I would head to the Student Council room to learn about its work.
And occasionally, I met with Berid to exchange information about how the Academy looked from the Villain’s perspective.
But the amount of information Berid possessed was less than I had expected.
“Yoo Iseo is a competent Student Council President. Many comrades have already lost their lives.”
“Even though you’re in the Council and control the information?”
“You mustn’t underestimate her intuition.”
Right. Yoo Iseo’s intuition was terrifying.
Even in the game, her intuition acted as a kind of special gimmick.
When she was an ally, it served as a radar that detected Villains.
But when she fell and became an enemy, it turned into a tactical weapon that dismantled the powers of Heroes.
It was around the time I began preparing for the upcoming scenario based on that information.
On a normal morning, while chatting with Park Siwoo on the way to the Academy, he suddenly spoke up.
“Now that I think about it, today’s the day for practical training.”
“Practical training?”
“Do you even listen when the Instructor talks?”
“...Would I be asking if I had?”
At my calm reply, Park Siwoo looked at me with an exasperated expression.
“This practical training is important because it affects our grades. You might end up failing, you know?”
I couldn’t laugh at his half-joking tone.
Because as I attended classes day after day, I was starting to realize that if things continued like this, I might really be in trouble.
The practicals weren’t an issue — but as always, the written exams were.
The Academy’s exams were divided into three parts:
The regular curriculum, just like an ordinary high school.
The special curriculum, covering theories necessary for Heroes.
And finally, the most important part — the practical exams.
The general curriculum and practicals weren’t much of a problem.
The real issue was the special curriculum exams.
Unlike others who had studied related theories and general knowledge since middle school, I had no such expertise.
I could barely scrape by using my gaming experience for things like “Demon Response Strategies,” but how could I possibly understand things like the ecology of Monsters or dungeon mana measurements?
The original owner of this body hadn’t been close to studying either, since there wasn’t a trace of such knowledge in my memories.
Or maybe the inheritance itself was incomplete.
Seeing my serious expression, Siwoo patted my shoulder.
“That’s why you need to pay more attention in class.”
Easy for him to say, but class wasn’t the problem.
The lectures themselves were practically in another language to someone like me who lacked even the most basic foundation.
It was like someone who didn’t even know numbers 1, 2, 3 trying to solve quadratic equations and functions.
If I didn’t want to repeat a year, I needed to study at least the basics.
‘I guess I’ll have to find a teacher who can teach me the fundamentals of the special curriculum.’
While chatting with Park Siwoo, we soon arrived at class.
But unlike usual, the classroom was noisy.
“The atmosphere’s kinda weird, isn’t it?”
The students were gathered around something as if watching a spectacle, blocking my view.
“What’s going on over there?”
Park Siwoo grabbed one of the students to ask, then came back.
“Looks like we’ve got a new classmate.”
“Someone transferred in?”
He shook his head.
“Not exactly. You know that one guy who hadn’t been coming to class for a while?”
“Ah.”
Now that he mentioned it, there had always been one empty seat in Class 1-A.
Even Instructor Kang Jae-seok had mentioned him a few times — looked like the student had finally ended his long refusal to attend.
‘So it’s already time for him to appear, huh.’
Of course, I already knew who he was.
He was none other than the second Playable Character of Become a Hero.
“Dan Chun-woo.”
The name was spoken not by us, but by someone else.
When I turned my head, Helena Raiders was standing there — I hadn’t even noticed her arrive.
“What, you know that guy?”
“Of course I do. Honestly, there’s probably no one in Korea who doesn’t know that man.”
“You’re British, though.”
What, was she the “Hel” from “Hell Joseon”?
At my remark, Helena froze, glaring at me before replying.
“...Even in Britain, the name of the Swordmaster is famous.”
I averted my gaze to avoid her dagger eyes.
Then Park Siwoo, who had been listening quietly, spoke up.
“Still, I didn’t expect the Swordmaster’s grandson to come to the Academy. If he’s a direct descendant, there’s no reason for him to even be here.”
“He was basically kicked out.”
“Kicked out?”
At Siwoo’s question, Helena crossed her arms and snorted.
“It’s well-known — ‘The disgrace of the Swordmaster Family,’ ‘the greatest scoundrel,’ ‘the trash.’ All those phrases refer to that man. Even the Swordmaster Family couldn’t tolerate the stain he brought to their name.”
Her tone dripped with hostility toward Dan Chun-woo.
“How do you even know all that?”
“You might’ve forgotten since you hang around these commoners, but I’m from a prestigious family myself.”
Her nose tilted higher as she crossed her arms.
“And among the noble families, the rumor of Dan Chun-woo’s exile spread like wildfire. They say the Swordmaster personally gave him a single sword and cast him out.”
“That’s kinda pitiful.”
Park Siwoo looked at Dan Chun-woo with pity.
Well, that probably explained the strange expressions on the surrounding students’ faces.
Admiration and awe from those who revered a famous family and the grandson of a Hero.
Disdain and disgust toward the man known as the greatest scoundrel.
Those two conflicting emotions mixed, keeping them from approaching him — instead, they surrounded him at a distance.
Meanwhile, Dan Chun-woo sat with his back straight, arms crossed, eyes closed — as if indifferent to their stares.
Like some old-fashioned scholar.
“Everyone, take your seats.”
The students only dispersed once Instructor Kang Jae-seok entered the classroom.
Once all the students were seated, Instructor Kang Jae-seok called roll and spoke.
“Finally, our class has perfect attendance.”
His gaze lingered briefly on Dan Chun-woo, then moved on.
He was never one to show personal interest in individual students, anyway.
“This afternoon’s class will be practical training. You all remember that, right?”
“Yes!”
“The training today will be a Monster Wave simulation exercise. It’s a group activity, and since the results will affect your grades, give it your best effort.”
As he said that, he tapped on the tablet in his hand.
A large screen appeared on the classroom’s main board.
“These are the groups for today’s training. I personally arranged them based on your grades for balance, so I won’t accept any complaints.”
I searched the screen for my name.
Unfortunately, it seemed I wasn’t in the same group as Park Siwoo or Helena.
When I finally found my name, my expression twisted.
Yoo Sung-woo, Kim Ye-seul, Park Min-seo.
All familiar names I’d heard during my time at the Academy.
The problem wasn’t those two — it was the name added at the end, almost as if it had been written in last minute: Dan Chun-woo.
I was in the same group as Dan Chun-woo?
I turned my head toward him.
The guy with his headphones hanging around his neck was staring stiffly at the screen.
‘Of all people... it had to be him.’
Having played Become a Hero for a long time, I knew his personality very well.
As the second Playable Character and successor of the Swordmaster, he was a “growth-type” character who, over the course of the scenario, experienced friendship and sacrifice, repented for his past mistakes, and reformed himself.
In other words, all that redemption arc nonsense only came after friendship — but right now, we hadn’t even exchanged names.
At this stage, he wasn’t some reformed hero; he was exactly what the rumors said — a born scoundrel.
And I had to do a group practical with that guy.
Normally, I wouldn’t have cared what he did.
If only this practical didn’t affect my grade.
I was already worried about failing due to the special curriculum — if this training went badly and it affected my practical score, it would be nothing short of a disaster.
Talk about terrible luck.
After giving us a few more instructions, the instructor wrapped up homeroom and left.
As soon as he did, Park Siwoo and Helena rushed over to my seat.
“You’re in the same group as Dan Chun-woo?”
I let out a sigh instead of answering.
“Man, you’ve got no luck. Of all people, you get stuck with that guy...”
“That’s not necessarily bad. He may be a scoundrel, but his skill is undeniable. He’s not the Swordmaster’s direct descendant for nothing.”
“And there’s a reason he’s called a scoundrel, too.”
“That’s...”
Helena couldn’t find a counter and shut her mouth.
As always, group activities weren’t something that could be carried by one outstanding person.
Five people doing their share were far more valuable than one person doing the work of five.
I straightened my thoughts, trying to look at things positively.
I hadn’t even talked to Dan Chun-woo or the other teammates yet.
It was too early to despair.
Who knew — maybe the real Dan Chun-woo, the living person, was more reasonable than his in-game version.
And even if he was exactly the same as in Become a Hero, I could just cover for him.
What mattered most was teamwork with the others, after all.
I held onto that thought as the morning classes ended and the much-anticipated practical training began.
Inside the enormous gymnasium, several groups of cadets were gathered in clusters.
They were discussing strategies for the upcoming exercise — checking their equipment, reviewing formations, and confirming attack patterns.
All to ensure the highest possible score.
I began searching for my teammates.
Naturally, the one who stood out the most was Dan Chun-woo.
No surprise there — he was already holding his sword, the same one he’d never been seen without all day.
The blue blade, clearly a personal weapon, exuded a sharp, icy energy filled with violent intent.
The training hadn’t even started, yet he already had his weapon drawn and was leaking aura.
A total lone wolf, through and through.
I sighed and approached him.
After all, he was a Playable Character, just like Park Siwoo.
Even if not now, I would eventually need to establish some sort of relationship with him.
It just came a little sooner than expected.
I spoke to him in as gentle a tone as possible.
“Dan Chun-woo, I’m Yoo Sung-woo, your teammate for this exercise. Can we talk about the plan?”
“……”
But he didn’t even bother to lower his headset — just closed his eyes.
“This bastard, seriously?”
Was he just... ignoring me?
I exercised superhuman patience, tapping his arm, even stomping my foot in front of him, trying to get a reaction — but nothing worked.
While I was struggling with him, the rest of the team approached.
One was a timid-looking girl, and the other was a guy with a face full of dissatisfaction — though not quite as bad as Dan Chun-woo’s.
If I remembered right, their names were Kim Ye-seul and Park Min-seo.
The girl spoke in a trembling voice.
“You’re... Yoo Sung-woo and Dan Chun-woo, right?”
“Yeah, nice to meet you.”
“Y-yeah...”
Then the guy beside her — Park Min-seo — spoke with an irritated tone.
“A troll who won’t even talk to his teammates and a guy who talks back to the instructor... what a joke. My team luck’s a disaster.”
“H-hey, don’t say that... Y-Yoo Sung-woo’s s-still strong...”
“Strong? Don’t make me laugh. I didn’t come here to play friends. I came to do the practical exam with my team, not play pretend.”
He glared at me openly, his hostility unmasked.
‘What’s with this guy? Do I know him?’
His hostility was oddly excessive.
I tried to recall if he had appeared in Become a Hero, but there was no trace of him.
In times like this, it was best to just ask.
I couldn’t afford to take the exam with some unpredictable guy behind my back.
“Why are you talking to me like that on our first meeting? You got a problem with me?”
“Problem? I’m just stating facts. Actually, sure, I’ve got a problem. Who do you think you are, acting all high and mighty?”
High and mighty? What the hell was he talking about?
I just blinked at him, confused, and that only seemed to make him angrier.
He scowled fiercely and continued.
“You think hanging out with Park Siwoo and Helena makes you their equal? You’re acting all cocky just because you did something at the orientation, but if we’d had weapons too, we could’ve done the same.”
And then I realized the real source of his hostility.
So that’s what this was — just plain, old-fashioned inferiority complex.
But even then, he didn’t stop.
“I heard you even managed to worm your way into the Student Council following Park Siwoo. I can’t stand idiots who don’t know their place. And don’t expect me to ‘cooperate’ with you.”
After saying his piece, he turned and walked away.
I quietly watched his back and came to a conclusion.
He’s a complete lunatic.
Worse than Dan Chun-woo, even.
His words were filled only with his own ugly emotions — no logic, no thought, not even a clear sense of what he wanted.
Just pure inferiority and resentment.
And to top it off, the guy who told me not to mess things up was the one breaking team cohesion himself. What a joke.
All I wanted was to get a decent grade.
At this point, even I — a patient man — could feel my temper boiling.
I had expected bad luck the moment I saw I’d been grouped with Dan Chun-woo, but...
This was worse than I’d imagined.
In the distance, I could see Park Siwoo and Helena laughing and chatting comfortably with their teammates.
And for the first time, I was genuinely jealous.