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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
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“Concise and to the point.”
The headmaster of Mirinae Academy, Perto Lafer, recalled his conversation with Lee Seok-hyun and smiled faintly.
He had intended to show empathy, offer comfort, and delve into counseling, but…
Lee Seok-hyun had stated his desires with unwavering clarity, focusing solely on the core issues before taking his leave.
‘He’s so different from the other students.’
A stark contrast to the students he’d seen at the award ceremony.
They had all been apprehensive and anxious, but not Lee Seok-hyun.
He possessed an unshakeable conviction in his actions, a firm belief that his choices were the correct ones. His gaze was unwavering.
It almost seemed as if he found even their conversation tedious.
“Where did such a student come from?”
Heroes are forged in times of crisis, but being a hero didn’t automatically make one a pillar of support.
A symbolic figurehead and a true spiritual leader were entirely different matters.
Yet, Lee Seok-hyun, unusually, embodied both.
He possessed the talent to turn the tide of battle and inspire others to follow.
The proof lay in his class—the first-year class experiencing the least amount of inter-class conflict in the academy’s history.
Perto was certain that such a harmonious class would never be seen again.
“It’s not something that can be taught, it’s innate.”
How could a seventeen-year-old possess such unwavering confidence in his own path?
Such conviction, backed by systematic reasoning and sound judgment, wasn’t something just anyone could achieve.
The ability to transcend age.
That’s what Lee Seok-hyun possessed.
“I sensed it during his representative speech, but he’s truly extraordinary. What is Lee Seok-hyun doing now?”
He posed the question to the air, but the answer came swiftly.
“He’s currently at the training grounds, leading a combined training program for the first-year students.”
“Is that so?”
When a student diligently fulfills their role, a headmaster must respond in kind.
“I must also fulfill my duties.”
“I will assist you.”
“Will you?”
“Yes.”
As their brief exchange concluded, a large magic circle appeared, encompassing the entire room, and began to vibrate.
“I won’t be satisfied until we repay them a hundredfold, no, a thousandfold, for what they’ve done.”
The true war against the demons was about to begin.
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“One!”
“Build!”
“Two!”
“Stamina!”
Male, female, noble, commoner.
Regardless of gender or social standing, everyone followed a single command, performing push-ups in unison.
No one complained about their skin touching the dirt; their faces reflected a shared determination.
“We must build our stamina! A healthy mind resides in a healthy body! We survived, and we will continue to survive! Am I wrong?!”
“No, sir!”
“Is that all the volume Mirinae Academy students can muster?!”
“No, sir!!!”
“Do you think that will reach my ears?!”
“No, sirrrrr!!!”
You’re a student too.
Gainard watched the unfolding scene, speechless and dumbfounded.
‘How can he do that?’
Weren’t they the same age? Had Lee Seok-hyun failed as a fourth-year and re-enrolled? What was he missing?
Countless questions arose in his mind, unresolved and swirling.
Before Lee Seok-hyun arrived, the training grounds had been steeped in individualism.
With their classmates dead or injured, cooperation was a distant concept, and the students were consumed by their own desperate need to grow stronger.
But Lee Seok-hyun had dismissed all that as nonsense and united the students, bringing them together as one.
‘This is more intense than knight training.’
As soon as the push-ups ended, the relay race began—a true descent into hell.
They ran in a single file, and at Lee Seok-hyun’s signal, the last student sprinted to the front.
They repeated this for forty minutes, and what surprised Gainard most was that even the lower-ranked students managed to endure.
Alone, it would have been impossible, but the sense of camaraderie, the shared struggle, pushed them forward.
What puzzled Gainard most was how Lee Seok-hyun knew this training method.
He wasn’t noble-born, hadn’t experienced knight training—how could he lead so effectively?
“This instructor is pleased to see you all working so hard. As a special reward, I’ll grant you the privilege of sitting down and resting for twenty minutes.”
“Thank you, sir!”
Even the timing was perfect.
Ending the exercise just before they reached their physical limits, offering rest at the peak of exhaustion.
This wasn’t something you could just figure out on your own.
While Gainard marveled at Lee Seok-hyun’s expertise, the training continued.
“Your voices… tsk. Fifteen minutes of rest.”
“Thank you, sirrrrr!”
The art of maintaining tension even during rest.
Even Lee Hwa-ryeong, who had mentored countless graduate students, was impressed, taking mental notes.
“Do you think you deserve to rest? Ten minutes.”
“”Thank you, sirrrrr!””
“Good. Rest.”
The students’ throats were raw from shouting, and Lee Seok-hyun finally nodded in satisfaction.
Thump.
As if on cue, everyone collapsed to the ground.
And it was here that Lee Seok-hyun expertly wielded the carrot and the stick.
The same instructor who had driven them mercilessly now distributed towels and drinks to the exhausted students.
“Perhaps we should promote him directly to graduate student status.”
Kerrar, watching the scene, unconsciously voiced his desire.
“Hmm?”
“Huh?”
Gainard and Lee Hwa-ryeong, harboring similar thoughts, immediately reacted.
“With that level of talent, it’s possible. He could become a professor within ten, no, five years. Of course, it would be a difficult path, but Lee Seok-hyun is capable. He would usher in a new era for Other Studies—”
“I apologize for interrupting, but it’s strange to still consider him for Other Studies after witnessing such a display. He possesses an innate talent for Martial Arts. He’s destined to join the Knight Order within three years and become a Knight Commander within five—”
“Excuse me, but how can you only focus on the physical aspects? His logical and strategic thinking embodies the very essence of Magic.”
The debate over Lee Seok-hyun’s major reignited.
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‘My army training is finally paying off.’
They say everything you learn eventually comes in handy.
He’d never imagined he’d be putting his army experience to use like this.
‘This is K-Army training, you brats.’
Using the survival game to mitigate inter-class conflict, and now using combined training to foster cooperation.
Uniting the entire first-year class was a near-impossible task, but creating smaller, cohesive groups was achievable.
He needed to prepare them for future crises, to prevent them from scattering and dying needlessly.
Building camaraderie was essential to minimizing casualties.
‘And nothing builds camaraderie like shared suffering.’
The sense of fellowship forged through sweat and shared hardship—this was emotional training at its finest.
In fact, some students were visibly moved by the training, their bodies trembling with emotion.
‘Wash away the despair with sweat, make them forget the past, and focus solely on the next challenge.’
There was no better way to clear the mind than through physical exertion.
Plus, this level of exhaustion meant they’d fall asleep instantly, leaving no room for troubling thoughts.
Classes wouldn’t resume properly until the academy recovered from the Death Meteor attack anyway.
This was the perfect opportunity to gain complete control over the first-year students.
‘This isn’t the time for solo vs. party play. I have to do everything I can.’
There was a hidden skill he could acquire by doing this.
Building an organization and gaining a hidden skill—a win-win scenario.
This was how Lee Seok-hyun built his early-game snowball.
And right now was the most critical moment.
‘Many students are just going through the motions.’
Larger groups inevitably led to more complaints.
Major grievances could be addressed, but minor issues were often too trivial to handle individually.
There was only one way to deal with these petty complaints.
“If you’re dissatisfied with this instructor, feel free to voice your complaints.”
“…?”
The students were taken aback by my sudden, unexpected statement.
I continued, undeterred.
“But be prepared for a physical consultation.”
A “physical” conversation was the most effective tool.
“Feel free to approach me anytime.”
In other words, ‘I’m always ready for a no-holds-barred fight.’
And whenever he made that offer…
“I have a complaint!”
…a volunteer inevitably emerged.
‘And there’s our example.’
Time to demonstrate the meaning of “making an example.”
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Thanks, mod