Chapter 19
The instructor appeared at the training ground not long after.
Unlike Hanul Hall, where we had set up the main training field, today’s gymnasium was practically an empty warehouse.
A massive dome hung from the ceiling of the gymnasium.
It was my first time here in this body, but in the game, I had entered and exited this place thousands of times.
It was the mock battle training field.
Instructor Kang Jae-seok, after checking the attendance, opened his mouth.
“This mock training for the Monster Wave has one goal—clearing the Monster Wave within the time limit.”
“What exactly are the criteria for a clear?”
At one cadet’s question, the instructor tapped on his tablet.
The dome attached to the ceiling began to emit light.
Then, it projected a hologram of a dome-shaped, red-glowing mana stone.
“At the center of the Monster Wave that you must clear exists this mana stone that spawns the monsters. You’ll determine the wave’s completion by destroying this mana stone. Any other questions?”
“What kind of monsters will be spawned?”
“A good question. The monsters will be chosen randomly from among D-rank monsters.”
At his words, sighs rippled among the cadets.
D-rank monsters—dangerous enough to kill an adult man with ease, but still manageable with conventional weapons.
Of course, for students of the Academy, D-rank monsters weren’t all that threatening.
However, the terrifying part about the Wave was that the monsters would continue to pour out endlessly until the Gate closed.
One-on-one, they were easy enough to handle, but if dozens or hundreds came at once, a single mistake could cost your life.
Well, that was the instructor’s explanation. The actual training was, after all, only a simulation.
From my memories of playing the game, I knew that dome on the ceiling was a large-scale mana hologram device.
Through that machine, it continuously projected virtual monsters.
Of course, they weren’t purely virtual.
You could feel pain when hit, and you could feel impact when striking them—it was that kind of device.
The instructor continued speaking.
“Now that the general explanation is over, let’s draw lots to decide the training order.”
As he tapped the tablet, a holographic box appeared in the air.
I’d thought this before, but that tablet really was a miracle of technology.
Even during lectures, it could create all sorts of things with just a few taps.
Maybe I should get one myself later.
“Each group’s representative will come forward to draw lots.”
I stepped forward as the representative of my group.
Normally, I hated being a leader, but with this group of trolls, leaving it to someone like Dan Chun-woo or Park Min-seo would’ve been asking for trouble.
So, I’d forcefully declared myself the leader.
Fortunately, Park Min-seo only looked annoyed and didn’t object.
Probably thought it was too much trouble to do anything himself.
Park Siwoo and Helena Raiders also stepped forward as their groups’ leaders.
Park Siwoo leaned toward me with a playful grin.
“Wanna make a bet on whose group gets the best score this time?”
“A bet?”
“Yeah, loser grants a wish.”
“I’ll pass.”
I didn’t have the luxury to entertain childish games like that.
Besides, my teammates weren’t exactly in top shape.
“What, are you scared you’ll lose?”
“Look at the state of my team. Do I look like I can afford to play around?”
“So, you’re scared?”
Ah, seriously.
For a gamer like me, being called ‘scared’ was the same as having someone curse my ancestors.
When I was terminally ill, I’d let people toy with my life expectancy, but I’d never let anyone insult my gaming skills.
“……Fine, let’s do it, you bastard.”
Once I gave in, Park Siwoo’s attention turned toward Helena.
“Helena, you’re in too, right?”
“Do you really think I’d join such a childish bet?”
“What, you scared too?”
At Park Siwoo’s words, Helena snorted in disbelief.
“I’m not foolish enough to fall for cheap provocations like your friend over there.”
Park Siwoo glanced at me, as if asking for backup.
A request for help, huh.
Well, since I was already in, I didn’t mind dragging Helena into it too.
After all, the prize was a wish.
I’d win this practical test anyway, and if I secured Helena’s wish, it might help in breaking future scenarios.
So, I decided to back Park Siwoo up.
“You really won’t join? It’s a wish, after all.”
“And what would I even do with a wish from the two of you?”
Of course, she didn’t see the point.
But what if the wish wasn’t some childish prank—what if it involved something crucial to her life?
I met Helena’s gaze and chose my words carefully.
“There are plenty of ways to use it. Like asking for help when you fight Demons after graduation. Or maybe… getting an answer to that question you asked me before?”
Her eyes flickered faintly at that.
As I’d intended, bringing up the Demons would get her mind spinning.
According to the game’s setting, Helena’s biggest weakness during this time was her Demon Phobia.
It stemmed from past trauma, and right now, she was desperate to overcome it by any means possible.
Besides, she had already asked me in the infirmary after orientation about how to conquer that fear.
So, she couldn’t just ignore what I’d said.
Go on, take the bait. Take it.
“Fine. I’ll play along with your scheme.”
Got her!
After a brief hesitation, Helena accepted the bet.
Just then, Instructor Kang Jae-seok’s deep voice cut in.
“So, when are you planning to decide the order?”
“Ah.”
We’d kept him waiting too long.
The other group leaders had already drawn their lots and were waiting for their turns.
We quickly came to our senses and drew our holographic lots.
I checked the number I’d picked.
“Oh.”
Number 3.
Not too early, not too late—just right.
For reference, Park Siwoo had drawn first, and Helena had drawn fourth.
After that, the training began in order.
“During the other groups’ training, the remaining cadets will write reports about the teams in session.”
At the instructor’s words, faint sighs spread among the cadets.
Guess they had thought they could just sit back, watch, or spend time strategizing.
Instructor Kang Jae-seok was never the type to let cadets idle during class.
I’d already experienced this event back in the game, so I had secured my seat and prepared to write the report in advance.
“You expected this?”
“The instructor’s not exactly the generous type, you know.”
While I exchanged a few words with Helena, Park Siwoo’s team began their training.
Wearing tight black combat suits, Park Siwoo and his teammates stood at the center of the mock battle arena.
Those black suits were designed to heighten realism during holographic simulations—transmitting physical impact and recording damage.
The instructor had explained that once a cadet took enough damage, the suit would stiffen up, and the wearer would be considered “dead,” collapsing on the spot.
The orb on the ceiling emitted light that spread throughout the gymnasium.
Soon, the scenery around us changed.
The once-empty gym transformed into a dense forest.
Cadets watching from the sidelines let out sounds of awe.
Park Siwoo’s group quickly formed up into a tight formation.
Their response was faster and cleaner than expected.
Within the vast forest, a sinister Gate opened, and ominous howls echoed from within the trees.
“Krek, kekrek.”
“We’re surrounded. Judging by the forest terrain and the distinctive sounds, the monsters are likely Amazon Goblins. Everyone, prepare for battle.”
Calmly assessing the situation, Park Siwoo briefed his team.
Sinister red eyes glowed within the shadows of the forest.
Moments later, hordes of red-skinned goblins burst from the trees, clashing against Park Siwoo’s group.
After the training ended, Park Siwoo was gasping for breath, while Instructor Kang Jae-seok gave feedback beside him.
“For your first time, you held out fairly well. Good work.”
In the end, Park Siwoo’s group had succeeded in defending against the Wave.
However, the instructor’s evaluation was rather cold.
“The coordination between teammates was a complete mess. It was basically Cadet Park Siwoo’s one-man show. Proof of that is that everyone except him ‘died,’ isn’t it?”
Yeah. They managed to clear the Wave only by result, not through teamwork.
Park Siwoo’s team had fought well enough.
But as the horde of goblins poured in, their stamina began to deplete, and once the weakest teammates started falling one by one, the balance collapsed instantly.
In the end, Park Siwoo was the only one left standing. He had destroyed the mana stone alone, wielding a single spear amid countless Amazon Goblins.
Judging solely by his performance, it was impressive—but this was a group exercise.
Teamwork and problem-solving were valued far more than individual skill.
Well, I’d expected as much.
That’s why I’d called my team a bunch of trolls.
But it seemed I was the only one who saw it coming—judging from the dark, lifeless expressions of the cadets around me after hearing the instructor’s harsh assessment.
They’d probably thought sticking close to a strong teammate would be enough to coast through.
“A hero is more often one who defeats enemies alongside comrades than one who fights alone. Keep that in mind and continue to improve.”
The training continued.
The second group failed miserably—not only did they not reach the mana stone within the time limit, they were wiped out in an instant.
Honestly, I felt a bit sorry for them.
Individually, they weren’t bad, but after hearing the critique of Park Siwoo’s group, they hesitated, couldn’t use their full abilities, fumbled their coordination, and ended up performing the worst of the worst.
To be fair, most of these first-year cadets had just entered the Academy. They knew only their own strength and had never properly synchronized with teammates before.
Even if the monsters were D-rank, it was natural that they could only focus on surviving.
After the second group’s feedback ended, it was finally our turn.
Dan Chun-woo still had his headset on, lost in his own world, and the guy who had been drowning in inferiority seemed to have quieted down a bit after realizing how intense the practical was.
We changed into black combat suits in the locker room and gathered at the center of the hall.
Since the training hadn’t started yet, I spoke up while looking at my teammates.
“You all saw what the training’s like, right? The top freshman, Park Siwoo, was the only survivor, and the second group got wiped out instantly. How about we make a proper plan now?”
“……”
“Hah, and what do you think will change if you make a plan now? You think the others didn’t plan anything either?”
Dan Chun-woo remained silent as ever, and Park Min-seo was still as irritable as before.
Kim Ye-seul just looked completely lost.
Seriously, not a single one of them was helpful.
The only one who might’ve been useful was Dan Chun-woo, but the damn guy still had his headset on, eyes closed.
Not like I could smash that thing either.
“Then, let’s begin the training.”
Damn it.
As the instructor spoke, a hologram spread across the surroundings, and the scenery shifted.
The setting changed to a collapsing post-apocalyptic cityscape.
From somewhere nearby, the eerie laughter of children echoed.
[Kik, kikik.]
And then, countless fireballs rained down toward us.
“H-hiiek!”
Seeing the incoming barrage like a fiery hailstorm, Kim Ye-seul panicked, raised her staff, and began chanting a spell.
Soon, a blue barrier spread around us as a defensive spell took form.
KWA-BOOM!
The powerful impact shook the shield.
She groaned from the strain, but judging from her expression, she could still endure it.
That meant now was the time to calmly analyze the enemy.
The urban setting and their unseen positions—
At first glance, it might’ve seemed like the same Amazon Goblins Park Siwoo fought earlier, but these were throwing fireballs.
That meant they were magic-using monsters.
Given that all monsters in this test were D-rank, there was only one possibility.
“They’re Imps! The monsters assigned to us are Imps!”
In the game’s tests, Imps were among the more troublesome D-rank monsters.
They were one of the few low-level monsters capable of using magic, and like goblins, they were cowardly and cunning—rarely showing themselves openly.
“I can’t maintain the barrier any longer!”
The storm of magic attacks raised clouds of dust everywhere.
Because the spells came from all directions, Kim Ye-seul had no choice but to keep up the barrier—but eventually, she must’ve run out of mana.
The moment her shield dissolved, dozens of small red demons appeared as if waiting for it.
And behind them, countless glowing fireballs hovered, ready to launch.
Despair clouded Kim Ye-seul’s face.
“Ah……”
Was it my turn to step in now?
I began channeling the Asura Divine Art to counter the incoming fireballs.
Those flames were nothing compared to the blaze of Asura.
The cluster of fireballs soon came soaring toward us, burning everything in their path with scorching heat.
I unleashed the heat of the Asura Divine Art, preparing to face them head-on.
Or rather, I tried to.
Slice—
Before I could even react, every single fireball split perfectly in half, vanishing without an explosion.
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!
A series of blasts echoed as the fragments disappeared into nothingness.
I turned around at the sharp aura I felt from behind me.
There stood Dan Chun-woo, who hadn’t said a single word until now—calmly holding a blue-glowing sword.
‘That show-off bastard…’
I stared at him coldly, my expression flat.