32
A week had passed since the terrorist incident.
Despite efforts by Eternity to uncover the mastermind behind the attack, no traces could be found. This was because all the mages involved had died. Thus, the Eternity Main Building terrorist incident came to an inconclusive end.
On the other hand, the aftermath of the attack lingered with the damaged student square and the main building’s exterior still under repair. However, in the superhuman society, such scenes were common, so the residents quickly resumed their daily lives.
As the end of March approached, it was time for the assembly.
Standing at the lectern, Hajinwoo spoke.
“Starting tomorrow, besides the common classes, each of you will attend classes based on your respective specialties.”
At Eternity, there existed specialized classes apart from the common curriculum.
It was understandable, given that everyone possessed different weapons, belonged to different magical categories, and thus had different specialized fields.
The start of the special classes, commencing in the first week of April, was just two days away.
“You can choose a total of 3 specialties. However, once you apply, it will be difficult to change during the semester, so choose carefully.”
At Hajinwoo’s words, the students fell silent.
It was reasonable. The specialties decided here would be hard to change in the future.
Not all swords were the same, nor were all magics alike.
Depending on the category chosen, the ‘specialty’ one would acquire in the future would differ.
For the students who had not yet realized their gifts, it was worth contemplating their aptitude.
“Youth, it is.”
It was when Hah Jin-woo was smiling contentedly at the positive career concerns of the students.
“Will you understand that?”
“······?”
Swish. Opening the door to the classroom was a blonde girl with a smile. Hah Jin-woo’s expression turned somber.
On the other hand, the students, who were puzzled by the appearance of the unfamiliar girl, showed a curious expression. However, that expression vanished with Hah Jin-woo’s introduction.
“It’s Noah Macdowell.”
“Gasp!”
“That person is·····!”
Shock filled the students’ eyes. No one in Eternity Academy was unfamiliar with that name. The Named Mine, the witch of the sword who put the ‘Night of Eternal Sleep’ to rest, was none other than Noah Macdowell, the living legend of the industry and the incarnation of magic.
“So the rumors were true·····”
Nikolai muttered in a defeated voice.
Not long ago, through the family’s information network, he had received a piece of news: the living legend of the industry and the avatar of magic, Noah, had appeared in Eternity.
Although they were in the same Eternity, the chances of Noah coming outside were truly rare.
So, even though they were somewhat prepared, they had never dreamed that she would appear so suddenly. If they had known, they would have at least dressed properly, but they made a mistake.
While Nikolai was still immersed in the sense of defeat for not dressing properly, Oh Jin-hyuk, without realizing Noah’s taboo, casually muttered about her appearance.
“But if it’s Macdowell, she must be quite mature······ uh!”
Before he could finish his sentence, he tumbled over his chair.
Thunk─
Suddenly, his desk warped and shot upwards.
The transformation of its form returned to its original state as Oh Jin-hyuk fell, but the classroom was now filled with the sound of jaws dropping.
Noah, seemingly unaffected by the atmosphere, smiled faintly.
“Nice to meet you, Noah Macdowell.”
“······.”
Not even 10 seconds after her arrival, the students, realizing Noah’s ‘taboo,’ awkwardly fell silent.
“It seems like you’re all worrying about unnecessary aptitudes, so I came here to kindly enlighten you, is that okay?”
At that moment, Kim Ha-yoon raised her hand.
“I have a question.”
“Go ahead.”
“I heard that the aptitude test is meaningless before Gift Manifestation, but is there a way to know one’s aptitude?”
Even if one thought they had chosen a skill that suited their aptitude, once they manifested their Gift, they often had to change their skill according to that Gift, which was a common occurrence among supernaturals.
For instance, if one practiced swordsmanship but suddenly awakened a healing Gift, it could be quite awkward.
Therefore, in the supernatural society, the aptitude test before Gift manifestation was usually not given much significance. That was why the students were pondering their skills. However, Noah’s words were completely different.
“Who said that? There is indeed a way to know your aptitude for sure.”
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At Noah’s words about a definite way to know one’s aptitude, the students’ eyes sparkled like stars.
Beside them, Hah Jin-woo quietly massaged his forehead.
“Interested in knowing? Shall I tell you? No objections, right?”
Although her tone was strangely peculiar for someone offering to share, no student paid it any mind. As long as they could know the aptitude that matched their Gift, the tone didn’t matter. With unanimous agreement, Noah raised the corners of her mouth slyly. And then.
Snap!
Her finger flicked.
However, the ripple caused by that flick was so intense that it was almost devastating.
“Ahh!”
“Huh!”
“Whoa!”
Suddenly, a horse appeared in front of them, launching an attack. The startled students displayed reflexive reactions.
Some students deployed defensive magic, others used elemental attack magic, dodged, rolled, blocked, or faced the attack head-on.
The students’ responses were truly as varied as can be.
Just as chaotic as their responses, the classroom also descended into chaos.
Hajinwoo furrowed his brow once more.
On the other hand, the one who turned the classroom into a mess stood confidently with arms crossed, nodding his head.
“The response you just showed is most suited to your nature.”
Swiftly attacking and assessing reactions. That was Noah Macdowell’s ‘Nature Discrimination Method.’
The reaction seen at the moment of death was indeed the true nature or something like that…
It might be an ignorant method, but it was subtly advantageous as it couldn’t be refuted.
Some students had successfully changed their nature and achieved success through this method.
Compatibility with Gifts was a secondary issue; according to Noah, having skills that suited one’s body was paramount.
Meanwhile, most students were unable to show a proper response to the sudden attack by the horse.
Falling, crawling on the floor, screaming – it was total chaos.
But that was expected, as the horse Noah summoned was no ordinary one.
It was hardly an illusion; he summoned a Grade 3 horse, and there was hardly anyone in their right mind who could remain calm after seeing that.
In Noah’s ‘Nature Discrimination Method,’ such chaos was a common sight.
It was a method that was hard to see a proper response to from the start…
However, this year, things were a bit different.
There were also students who overwhelmed the horses.
Nikolai, Eungaye, Han Seyun, Amelia, and the other supporting roles…
“Ahh!”
Eungaye, who was sipping grape juice from a can, suddenly came face to face with a horse and leaped onto the desk.
The horse’s hand swept below her, and then Eungaye’s sword came down from above, cleaving the horse in half.
“Ah, I just washed this yesterday, now my clothes are ruined.”
Eungaye, who spilled the drink can on her school uniform, pouted. Then, she suddenly stepped back in shock.
Tang! Tang!
The magical bullets grazed right past her. Eungaye, brushing off her chest, glared to the side.
“Han Seyun! Warn me before shooting. You scared me.”
“Sorry.”
Apologizing verbally, Han Seyun shot again. Tang! The charging horse fell backward with a hole in its head.
Not only those two, but Nikolai’s spear technique swiftly overpowered the horses, and Amelia’s combination magic neatly subdued the horses as if solving the problem.
Despite the unexpected outcome where many students drove the horses away, Noah’s response remained nonchalant.
“…Hmm.”
With that level of talent, Noah Macdowell had been a fixture at Eternity Academy for the past half century.
Though it was certainly the first time so many students gathered in one class, anyway, it wasn’t exciting.
However, even Noah kept an eye on a certain student. It was because of that student that she had come this far in the first place.
Right, Cheon Woojin.
In a single strike, Cheon Woojin’s neat sword that subdued demons made even Noa nod in approval.
Born under the “Blessing of the Sword,” Cheon Woojin possessed a skillful talent that translated any move he made into the best response, boosting his morale.
Hajinwoo also marveled quietly.
“I see it every time, but that swordsmanship is truly amazing.”
“It’s a talent.”
Noa confirmed once again that his eyes did not deceive him. Nevertheless, putting that aside…
“What’s with that one?”
Noa, who turned his head to one side, raised an eyebrow.
While everyone else was responding to the demons, that one person sat alone, seemingly indifferent, just blinking their eyes.
Although the demons they conjured were illusions and posed no real threat, such a “non-reaction” was a first for Noa as well.
It was understandable since the illusions created by her had a tangible presence and could strike unexpectedly, prompting anyone to react.
“Could that be possible?”
As Noa expressed his puzzlement, Hajinwoo, catching on, smiled as if to indicate understanding.
“That one has always been like that.”
“Originally like that?”
“Yes, he’s a guy with exceptional sensitivity towards magic. He can distinguish illusions and chooses not to react.”
“…”
With an astonished gaze, Noa looked at the only one seated, ‘Ihaesol.’
If Hajinwoo’s words were true, then that in itself was quite remarkable.
***
To cut to the chase, Hajinwoo’s assumptions from one to ten were all completely wrong.
I didn’t have any outstanding ability to distinguish illusions or choose not to react.
“…So fast.”
I simply couldn’t react because it was too quick.
I had learned the gift ＜Body Acceleration＞ just in case for moments like this, but I had never intended to use it in the first place.
The moment I saw Noa MacDowell enter through the classroom door, I realized what was happening.
Noa MacDowell, who had come across Cheon Woojin by chance after appearing at the scene of the mine’s terror and now wanted to confirm if the talent he saw in Cheon Woojin was real, was here for that purpose.
Checking the levels of the other students was just an added bonus.
And the method used for this level check was precisely the surprise attack through the illusion of demons, as it was happening now.
So, being an “illusion,” there was no need to exert effort to resist it.
After all, using ＜Body Acceleration＞ put a tremendous strain on the body each time it was used.
Of course, even without using ＜Body Acceleration＞, I tried to feign an attempt to dodge it…
“Wow, is your heart made of steel? Taking it head-on without flinching.”
“…”
I just closed my mouth at the absurdity of Eungaye’s reaction.
My dismal reflexes made me even more ridiculous.
Anyway, the next step in this sequence was Noa MacDowell confirming Cheon Woojin’s talent and taking him away.
“There, you. Let’s have a chat.”
Just like that, right now.
Being led by Noah, Cheon Woo-jin stepped out.
It was the beginning of an episode in Cheon Woo-jin’s special class.
Unlike other students, receiving one-on-one guidance from the academy’s renowned figure, Noah, was a special privilege for Cheon Woo-jin as the protagonist. He didn’t envy it at all, but…
Cheon Woo-jin, being dragged out without even knowing English, looked somewhat pitiful.
He wouldn’t even dream of the fact that ahead of him lay an endless ‘training hell.’
“Endure some hardships. You need to become stronger for my sake as well.”
With that, Noah and Cheon Woo-jin disappeared from the classroom.
The classroom, now a mess as if a hurricane had passed through, fell into silence for a while.
“Well, then, as mentioned earlier, I will have you choose a special subject.”
Hajin-woo’s awkward clearing of his throat broke the silence.
***
There are a total of three special subjects that must be taken as mandatory courses. The following three are the subjects I have chosen to take.
＜Advanced Magic Exploration＞. ＜Monster Hunting＞. ＜Duels＞.
Even if monster hunting and duels made some sense, what good would it do for me, who has no magic, to take advanced magic exploration? Candidly speaking, the concept of ‘special subjects’ was of no help to me.
From the start, as an irregular who raises stats through quests, I had no need for ‘special abilities’ or ‘aptitude.’
The reasons for selecting those three subjects were very simple.
The first was to earn credits, and the second was to create a pretext for making connections with the major events happening at the academy.
And so began the first special class. Advanced Magic Exploration.
Just hearing the name, it sounded like a subject where you would study endless theories. But the reality was completely different.
A wide forest spread out behind the student dormitories.
Students who were taking advanced magic exploration from each class were seated.
Standing in front of them as the instructor was the association’s magician, Kim Joo-hyuk.
Kim Joo-hyuk, upon noticing me among the students, raised an eyebrow briefly but then relaxed his expression and began explaining today’s lesson.
“Currently, in the student dormitory forest, there are magic stones coated with substances that make detection difficult. I will rank the students based on who brings the highest-quality magic stones.”
With his words, Kim Joo-hyuk pressed the button on the large clock placed on a rock. Without even taking questions, he immediately started.
Students hurriedly rushed into the forest, fearing they might be late. However, I stood still, scratching my head.
“I can’t detect magic stones…”
Although detection of magic was possible when Gram was activated, the activation time was really short.
The aftereffects were no joke either. I couldn’t go through that trouble just to find one magic stone.
Did my dilemma reach someone? Just then, a savior appeared.
“Aren’t you going?”
It was Amelia.
Also known as the human magic detector.