25 – Will You Team Up with Me?
The classroom is filled with murmurs.
Whispering among themselves as they watch Jihun.
“Why is he acting like that, seriously?”
“So. What can I do alone?”
“Hey, be quiet. Didn’t you see him beat up Do Yeonghwan from the 10th class the other day?”
“Oh yeah, and he caught King Goblin too.”
“He did catch King Goblin, right? All the B team kids were saying weird things. They said he didn’t attack.”
Although something seemed different about Jihoon, the evaluation towards him, who had been the representative failure for over a year, was still not favorable.
“Ahem…everyone, quiet down.”
Professor Jin answers Jihoon’s question while paying attention to the rowdy students.
“Since this quarter evaluation is a team evaluation, it is impossible to be evaluated individually. Of course, the individual scores are calculated by evaluating each team member’s contribution and achievements separately, but participation must be in teams, not individually. Those who fail to form a team will be forced to form a team by matching positions at the very end. Is that clear?”
“Yes, understood.”
Jihoon sighs with disappointment.
“This quarter evaluation involves the participation of all students from the 4th to 11th class. As I said, excluding those who cannot find a team, we will try to accommodate the autonomous choices of the students as much as possible for team composition. Please form teams and submit the list by the end of this week. That’s all.”
After finishing the explanation and leaving the room, Jihoon falls into deep thought.
If what Professor Jin explained is true, then the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd classes were not the target of this quarter evaluation.
If it means that he won’t be able to team up with Hansojeong from the 2nd class…
Except for Hansojeong, Jihoon had no friends at the academy, or rather, no friends in particular.
He seemed to have no choice but to participate in the quarter evaluation with a team formed forcefully at the end.
That’s when it happened.
The door of the classroom opens, and a group of five men and women come rushing in.
“Oh? Aren’t they the 10th class kids?”
“That’s right…why are they here? Are they trying to find team members?”
“Are you dumb? Why would they come to the 11th class to find team members just because they have regrets?”
Ignoring the buzzing 11th class students, the group of five advances to Jihoon’s seat at the back.
“Hello? You’re Kang Jihoon, right? I’m Kim Jiyu from the 10th class.”
A girl with a bob cut smiles brightly as she greets Jihoon.
“Yeah, that’s right. I’m Kang Jihoon. Hello.”
“I’ve heard a lot about you. There was some trouble with Do Yeonghwan and his friends, right?”
“Well…there was some trouble. Why? Are they your friends? Did they come for revenge?”
The girl, hearing Jihoon’s nonchalant response, vigorously shakes her hands and hurriedly denies it.
“Oh no, no way! We’re just classmates, not close to Do Yeonghwan and his gang.”
She continues to show a face that expresses annoyance at Jihoon’s suspicion while never losing her smile.
“In fact, we came to ask you to join our team for this quarter evaluation.”
“Huh? Me?”
Confusion was written all over Jihoon’s face.
“Yes, I heard that you took down Do Yeonghwan’s gang all by yourself, without any weapons or reinforcements, right? We need someone with close combat skills like that. These two are magic-based, here we have a tanker, this one is an archer, and I am a healer.”
“Hmm…”
Jihoon’s expression became uncertain, and the woman continued speaking without hesitation.
“Anyway, we know the upper class players ranked 4, 5, and 6 don’t team up with players from lower classes like us, right? It’s also rare to find a team with positions perfectly aligned like ours. It would be a perfect fit if you join us… Were you planning to join another team?”
“Um… I wasn’t planning to… but now that I think about it, I do have an offer. I’m sorry.”
Jiyu’s impression was crumpled by Jihoon’s response. However, she soon brightened up again.
“It’s a shame, but it can’t be helped… If you don’t have many teammates, consider joining us. There’s no specific limit to the number of team members, and in last year’s evaluation, there was a team with 12 members. Individual scores are important, but team performance is a plus. Do you understand?”
As Kim Jiyu and her team members left with regret, Jihoon stood up and took a few steps. Then, he approached a woman sitting alone and looking out the window.
“Your name is Hansuyoung, right?”
Suyoung turned her gaze from the window to Jihoon at his words.
“Um… Yes, that’s right…”
Her eyes showed quite a bit of surprise at Jihoon’s sudden familiarity.
Hansuyoung was the only one who had stepped forward to stop Do Yeonghwan’s gang from confronting Jihoon. As the next class after Jihoon, who was ranked last in the 11th class, she had always defended him against the ridicule from Do Yeonghwan’s gang.
When the 10th class students came looking for Do Yeonghwan and his gang, Jihoon suddenly thought of Hansuyoung and approached her.
“Do you have a team by any chance?”
Suyoung became even more flustered at Jihoon’s question and lost focus in her eyes.
“If you don’t have a team, let’s team up.”
“…Isn’t it better for you to join their team? They probably won’t accept me if I join you… They probably already have a healer…”
With Suhyoung’s hesitant voice, Jihoon’s voice became slightly more enthusiastic.
“Oh~ You’re a healer? Wow, that’s great news!”
Suyoung looked puzzled at Jihoon’s words and timidly asked.
“Why would you want us to team up if you don’t even know my position?”
“Just… because you were on my side before, right?”
The gaze remained fixed on the floor as Sooyoung faintly smiled.
“All the others either looked away or went along with it, but you were the only one on my side. It means you’re the bravest and most just here.”
Sooyoung, with a puzzled expression, raised her head to look at Jihoon after furrowing her brows.
“Isn’t it embarrassing to say that?”
“What can I do if it’s the truth? If we were on the same team, we’d probably win, but giving that opportunity to those strict guys is a bit much.”
“…?”
Sooyoung stared at Jihoon for a while, seemingly not understanding, but after seeing his unchanging expression, she realized he wasn’t joking.
“Do you really think we can win? Shouldn’t we find better teammates first?”
“Why? Can’t you trust me? You’ve got to start from the bottom, so just follow along for now.”
Jihoon’s face now bore a slightly playful smile.
“Who are we going to find as other team members? Do you have friends in the academy? I don’t have any…”
“I have one, but they’re in Class 2, and it seems they won’t be taking the mid-term evaluation with us…”
“…?”
Sooyoung found it hard to believe that Jihoon had a friend in Class 2. Not long ago, she was the only one who was even more ignored than herself.
And another question came to mind.
“So… are you saying we should make a team with just the two of us and aim for the championship?”
“Yeah, I was originally planning to do it alone, but it seems you’re quite lucky.”
Sooyoung, feeling happy and unable to help but smile despite the conversation’s content, was drawn to Jihoon’s words.
“I… I have low stats, and my skills are not great, and I don’t have a one-hit KO move like you…”
“If you’re a healer, you’re the only position I need. In fact, besides a healer, the rest won’t be able to help me no matter which team they’re on.”
Sooyoung gained some confidence from Jihoon’s firm words.
“Just wait… is she really believing that he can win?”
Unconsciously, her thoughts began to align with Jihoon’s, and Sooyoung couldn’t believe in herself, causing confusion.
“Do we really need to fill up the whole team this week? Let’s go now and submit the roster.”
Enthralled by Jihoon’s words, Sooyoung got up and followed him.
***
“So… you two are on the same team?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Kang Jihoon. Han Sooyoung, just the two of you…?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Professor Jin Seokhyun’s head was throbbing from these two people who came to him in less than a few minutes after he left.
Jihoon, who was clearly beyond the level of Class 11, was still uncertain about his exact level.
He had felt uneasy since the moment she asked if he could take the quarterly evaluation alone.
But he never thought it would turn out like this. He thought he had explained it well earlier…
“This quarterly evaluation is divided into two parts: virtual gate extermination and inter-team tournament matches. The reason for forming teams is also for this purpose. Each team must consist of a tank, melee dealer, ranged dealer, supporter, and healer to fight properly.”
“Um… I am a tank, as well as a ranged and melee dealer. And here, Han Sooyoung is the healer.”
“Ahem… I wonder if it’s because it’s difficult to find team members-“
“If I may, as a professor, shouldn’t you recognize the level of a student?”
It was a sarcastic remark, questioning if he was unaware of the fact that he was not an ordinary Class 11 Hunter and that he could win with just one healer.
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Professor Jin Seokhyun couldn’t help but feel indignant.
He himself was not unaware of Jihoon’s extraordinary abilities.
In fact, he had even recommended Jihoon to the Director to observe the quarterly evaluation and pay attention to him.
But he couldn’t determine the exact level of Jihoon.
Even if a capable and insightful professor came, it would be difficult to accurately assess his abilities.
It was because only a faint amount of magic power could be felt from Jihoon.
After all, isn’t the amount of magic power the ability of a Hunter?
Basic strength, agility, stamina, etc. merely complement magic power.
It is self-evident what would happen if a punch thrown with all one’s might clashes with a punch infused with magic power.
“Ahem… I also don’t not know what level you are… I could only explain it due to regulations… I’ll keep your name on the list, so you can go back.”
Knowing nothing… Professor Jin had no choice but to speak solemnly, pretending to know, without being able to do anything.