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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
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“You’ve caused quite a stir.”
“Pardon?”
“The combined training.”
“Ah, ah… well, it’s just the same old, same old.”
It was after lunch, during my personal training time with Acasa.
Instead of starting immediately, she inquired about my recent activities.
“Are you aiming for the student council president position? The first commoner student council president since Mirinae Academy’s founding… It’s quite the appealing title.”
“No? What are you talking about? I have no such intentions.”
“Then explain how you managed to unite the entire first-year class.”
Acasa’s pointed remark left me speechless.
‘She’s not wrong. Things have gotten a bit out of hand.’
My role as a drill instructor, fueled by the desire to strengthen the first-years and reverse the prevailing atmosphere of despair, had grown beyond my initial intentions.
Now that Mirinae Academy’s regular curriculum had resumed, the combined training wasn’t as frequent, but weekends were designated as mandatory training days.
There were even discussions about incorporating Lee Seok-hyun’s combined training into the regular curriculum as a formal course.
Moreover, I’d selected a few students as backup instructors in case I couldn’t lead the training due to other commitments, and their enthusiasm was overwhelming.
‘I never would have guessed Woo Do-hyun and Bellos would enjoy playing drill instructor so much…’
While Bellos’s eagerness for leadership positions was predictable, Woo Do-hyun’s enjoyment of leading others was a surprise.
Bellos favored a stricter approach, while Woo Do-hyun employed constant encouragement to push the students.
Both were equally terrible, but Woo Do-hyun’s friendly demeanor made him even more devilish. You couldn’t refuse someone who smiled so genuinely while urging you to push yourself harder.
With Mijuran also participating, Class S had effectively become the head of the entire first-year student body.
Previously, the hierarchy had been based solely on academic ranking, but now it felt like distinct social classes had formed.
My project, initially intended to strengthen the first years, had inadvertently united them under my leadership, just as Acasa predicted.
“Well, I know you didn’t do this with any malicious intent, and the students’ abilities have undeniably improved, so everyone’s happy, but…”
“Yes, yes.”
“…I’m not so sure the other years will react positively.”
Acasa offered some realistic advice.
Since the first-year students were still isolated and hadn’t interacted with the other years, there hadn’t been any open conflict yet.
But once interactions resumed, negative reactions were highly likely.
‘Especially from the other years, where inter-class conflict is rampant… They won’t appreciate commoners and nobles training together.’
In such an environment, they’d naturally target the instigator, and I was practically painting a target on my back.
“Well, I trust you’ll handle it. Since things have already come this far, the student council president position…”
“Huh? Why do you keep subtly bringing up the student council president position…?”
“Well, wouldn’t it be convenient for me if my only disciple were the student council president?”
“Convenient how? You’re already comfortable enough.”
No regular classes, a private training ground, living separately from the main academy building, avoiding most academy duties…
And she wanted more privileges?
Thwack.
“When your master says she wants something, you should respond with, ‘Of course, Master! You work so hard teaching me!’ Your attitude needs adjustment.”
Acasa, realizing she’d gone too far, flicked my forehead in reprimand.
Even so, she didn’t deny how comfortable her position already was. Her lack of shame was almost admirable.
“By the way, you acquired the Infinite Track Cooler?”
“Yes.”
“Impressive, obtaining an accessory so quickly.”
Infinite Track’s power depended not only on proficiency but also on customizable accessories.
Like the Cooler I’d obtained after defeating Garan, these accessories allowed for personalized enhancements.
Boosters, chargers, mode selectors, and more.
Infinite Track adapted to the user’s combat style, growing and evolving with them.
Acasa’s aggressive, destructive style had shaped her Infinite Track accordingly.
“At that rate, even if there’s conflict with the other years, you’ll be able to subdue them with a few punches.”
“What? Why are you making me sound like some violent primitive… We can resolve things through dialogue.”
“As if that would work. The way I see it, the S-Class students could easily handle the second-years, so just punch your way through if things get complicated.”
That’s not the point.
It seemed impossible to reason with someone who’d been born strong and never needed to rely on diplomacy.
“Oh, right, one more thing. You’re aware of the upcoming inter-academy exchange competition, aren’t you?”
“Yes…”
What was she going to say now?
I listened to Acasa with a sense of foreboding, and as expected…
“You can’t lose. You die if you lose.”
It wasn’t just a warning; the killing intent radiating from her made it clear she meant it.
“There’s this arrogant bastard disciple who claims to be my rival. They’re in the same year as you, so they’ll definitely participate… If you lose to them, you’re dead. Crush them completely, and from now on, we’ll train for that.”
“Ah… well, okay.”
An inter-academy exchange competition.
‘Is it an exchange or a competition? Pick one.’
The emphasis on competition suggested there would be some serious fighting involved.
I didn’t dwell on it and simply focused on preparing myself.
My goal was to acquire another Infinite Track accessory before this ‘exchange competition’.
‘Now that I’m a drill instructor, I have to train even harder.’
With that thought, I charged at Acasa.
The real training was about to begin.
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Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sound of metal striking metal.
But the reality was different.
“Hit it harder! I said harder!”
Flesh against steel.
Even as the hammer struck repeatedly, the body remained unharmed, absorbing the impact.
Clang!
Finally, after the relentless barrage, it wasn’t the body that broke, but the steel hammer.
The body’s owner stared down at the mangled hammer with a look of disgust.
“This level of training is pathetic. How do you expect to defeat those Mirinae brats with this? Get a grip!”
“S-sorry, but this was the strongest one I could find quickly…”
“I don’t care how long it takes, bring me something stronger! There are plenty of better metals out there! Even if you have to use mana forging, just make it happen!”
“Y-yes!”
Useless fools.
The body’s owner retied her hair, which had come loose during the exercise, and straightened her clothes.
“Mirinae Academy is reeling from the demon attack; this is the perfect opportunity to crush them! Why doesn’t anyone understand this?!”
The Death Meteor incident.
The news of the academy’s heavy losses and the students’ deaths had spread far and wide.
This was the ideal moment to strike, to capitalize on their weakness.
The despair of defeat, the terror of facing death at such a young age—these emotions would be deeply ingrained in their minds.
Yet, these idiots were wasting time, failing to grasp the opportunity.
“I refuse to settle for a narrow victory like last year! I will achieve absolute dominance from the moment I set foot in Velutos!”
Velutos Academy.
While Mirinae Academy held the top position, Velutos always remained in its shadow.
Even when they won the first-year competition in the exchange, the overall victory was decided by the performance of all four years, and Velutos always fell short.
She was tired of being told they “fought well despite the loss.”
“They lack unity. That’s what we have to exploit, but these idiots…”
Elua Velutos, the top-ranked first-year student at Velutos Academy, continued to express her frustration.
As her name suggested, she was the daughter of the headmaster of Velutos Academy, a promising talent wielding both power and influence.
“This time, we’ll prove it. That nobles united are far superior to those who mingle with commoners.”
Not all academies accepted commoners.
Some catered exclusively to commoners, while others, like Velutos, remained purely aristocratic.
“We’ll finally demonstrate our superiority. That nobles alone, united by their shared heritage, are the true elite.”
The inherent hierarchy and shared social standing among nobles fostered a strong sense of unity, making them a formidable force, especially in the lower years where Mirinae Academy struggled with inter-class conflict.
‘But this time, it won’t be limited to the lower years.’
This year, their goal was total victory over Mirinae Academy, across all years—not just victory, but absolute domination.
Elua was prepared to push herself to the limit to achieve this.
And this wasn’t just her personal ambition; it was the prevailing sentiment at Velutos Academy.
To prove that pure-blooded nobles were the rightful rulers.
That was their objective.
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