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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: bchen3
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Taejin Jin observed Eunwol Cha with an expressionless face.
“······Haa, haa.”
Having just completed the ‘Strength Course,’ she was staggering while catching her breath heavily.
This was the aftereffect that appeared when a stat was lacking.
‘It seems to have improved since the entrance exam.’
She still had an extreme disparity between her magic stat and the other three stats.
‘Even if one pursues the magic path, proper balance between each stat is necessary.’
Excessive imbalance between stats.
This was a typical problem that appeared in those with blessed qualities in specific stats, like Eunwol Cha.
Usually, the outcome for such students was one of two things.
‘Either they achieve greatness, or they drop out completely.’
The variance was extreme.
This was precisely why he valued balanced stats highly.
Taejin Jin revised his assessment of Eunwol Cha in his mind.
-Confirmed minimum qualifications to avoid failing in the remaining stats except for magic.
-However, this is a part that can diverge depending on the student’s individual effort.
-Therefore, there is a need to guide balanced training.
Taejin Jin thought to lead Eunwol Cha on the right path, even if it required some intervention.
The reason was simple.
‘Because her quality regarding magic power is at a level that could be called a once-in-a-millennium talent without exaggeration.’
After organizing his thoughts, he turned his gaze.
Just as he was about to explain the second ‘Agility Course.’
‘······Hmm?’
He suddenly felt a commotion.
The source of the commotion was the students classified as experienced.
‘Are they mocking? This year is no different.’
It was obvious without looking.
It was an annual occurrence for students who received early education, that is, students with backgrounds, to look down on other students.
Despite knowing this, Taejin Jin remained silent.
Instead, he observed the reactions and expressions of the inexperienced students.
‘Gangcheol Lim and Seolha Yun. Only two students are reacting.’
Taejin Jin was quite displeased.
The reason was simple.
‘Nothing will change if you just remain intimidated.’
Whether it be anger or fighting spirit.
One needed to kindle intense emotions towards the reality of being disregarded.
Only with that level of tenacity could one survive even if their qualities were lacking.
‘Moreover, that student also has little reaction······.’
Just as he was about to speak, thinking of a young man.
“The next course is agility. Volunteers are······.”
“I’ll do it.”
Right then, the student he was thinking of raised his hand high.
The moment he saw him, the corner of Taejin Jin’s mouth slightly turned upward.
‘It wasn’t that there was no reaction.’
At the same time, he realized.
Why he had shown no reaction until now.
‘It was composure.’
Like the great sea.
Just not blazing like an active volcano.
When he started moving, he had the disposition to sweep everything away like a raging torrent.
Taejin Jin immediately added another point to the assessment of student Anil.
-Also possesses composure.
*
“The second course, the ‘Agility Course,’ is also simple.”
The instructor began his explanation while placing me at the starting line.
The method was both similar to and different from the entrance exam.
“You’ll see machines beyond the finish line over there. You need to run through while avoiding the balls emitted from there.”
The method seemed simple at first.
However, as the distance to the finish line decreased, the gap with the machines narrowed, making it look not so easy.
“Penalty factors are as follows. Failure to arrive within the time limit results in disqualification. Deductions for each ball hit, that’s all. Any questions?”
“No.”
With my answer, I looked at the ‘Agility Course.’
It strangely reminded me of the entrance exam.
‘Back then, I was scared even before the measurement.’
It was because I couldn’t prepare at all.
But now, I was confident.
‘Because stats don’t lie.’
I already knew through experience.
That even without my conscious awareness, my body would perform according to my stats on its own.
After preparing to run, I observed the group of experienced students.
Even just looking at their eyes, I could feel their sneers.
I deliberately made eye contact with one student among them who was openly mocking.
“······!”
As if unexpected that our eyes met.
He flinched slightly but soon returned to his original demeanor.
‘Well, this is just preliminary preparation.’
This eye contact was merely groundwork.
Just as I was getting into position with that thought.
“Then begin.”
The instructor operated the machine.
Whoosh-!
Balls were fired irregularly.
Simultaneously, I kicked off the track and advanced without hesitation.
A ball flew towards my face, but.
Swish-
I avoided it by slightly tilting my shoulder.
At the same time, I didn’t slow my speed at all.
Because there was a time limit.
Thud-
The more I advanced, the number of balls increased, and the speed of the balls intensified further.
But my pace didn’t waver.
‘At F-level, it shouldn’t be burdensome with my current stats.’
I trusted my stats.
And my stats didn’t betray me.
Thud-!
The moment I stepped on the finish line, the instructor shouted.
“Student Anil, 82 points. It’s a score that’s not easy even for experienced students, excellent despite being F-level.”
82 points. As soon as I heard the score, I turned my head.
It was towards that very student I had made eye contact with earlier.
Perhaps because I was looking directly at him.
“······!”
The opponent flinched.
Meanwhile, the instructor continued speaking.
“With some technique, you can definitely improve your score further. Has the student’s agility increased since the stat check?”
“Yes. Currently at 8 stats.”
“You’ve increased by 1 stat since then.”
The instructor looked at me with a peculiar gaze.
I slightly bowed my head, then once again stared at the aforementioned student.
“······Ugh.”
Not only the targeted student.
But also those who were adding their sneers nearby started to avoid my gaze gradually.
“You may return to your place.”
“Yes,”
Before returning, I finished with one more glance.
Gangcheol Lim greeted me with enthusiasm.
“Ha! That look in your eyes, it’s been a while! Hahaha!”
As if he knew from experience, he patted my shoulder firmly.
Due to Gangcheol Lim’s uniquely loud voice, the group of experienced students shrank even more.
‘Ah, comfortable.’
I turned my head with satisfaction.
But.
“Next is the last and third. ‘Endurance Course.'”
Their tribulation was not over yet.
“I’ll do it.”
“Student Seolha Yun. Good, come forward.”
She, Seolha Yun, who had taken the top position surpassing the children of prestigious families, stepped forward.
She was not at the level of subtly giving glances like me.
Glare-
She was openly glaring with a cold look.
The result was also spectacular.
“······Student Seolha Yun, 100 points. Perfect. The student should proceed with F+ level instead of F level during self-training time.”
“Thank you.”
She had completely overwhelmed them.
‘Wow, as expected of the top student.’
With admiration, just as I was feeling refreshed about the fact that the experienced group had been dominated.
The instructor gathered everyone’s attention.
“Now, until the end of the 7th period, conduct self-training on the first three courses.”
At the instructor’s words, I inwardly chose the endurance course.
‘Endurance course. A bit more and my endurance will increase, right?’
Unlike strength, it hadn’t increased last night when my other self trained, which was the reason.
Thinking it would increase if I continued, I engaged in the training.
‘Let’s go.’
Perhaps because all my attention was focused on the endurance course.
“······.”
I didn’t notice.
That a pair of strange gazes were directed at me.
*
The 8th period class flowed similarly to the 7th period.
“The first course of the latter half is······.”
The class began with an explanation about the latter three courses, the ‘Combined Stat Courses.’
The first was ‘Strength – Agility’ course.
The second was ‘Agility – Endurance’ course.
And the third was ‘Strength – Endurance’ course.
After the explanation, without fail, demonstrations were shown through volunteers.
Then.
“Just like the 7th period, self······.”
Self-training was directed.
The method was the same as the first three courses.
By pressing a button placed right in front of the finish line, a score would appear on the gauge installed next to it.
After trying each one.
’65 points, 68 points, 69 points.’
Overall, the scores were lower compared to the first three courses.
Therefore, I looked at the scores of surrounding students, especially focusing on the experienced ones.
As a result, I realized there wasn’t much difference from me.
‘A good score is in the 70s, and most are similar to me?’
The difficulty of the latter three courses seemed clearly higher.
Just then, an explanation flowed from the instructor.
“Mastery is important. Think of the current score as what you got according to your stats. As you gain know-how, the score will naturally rise.”
Listening attentively to his words, I thought.
‘Anyway, for the time being, personal training will focus on circuit training.’
With practice, mastery would come naturally.
Without any particular worry, I once again devoted myself to training.
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Thus, after the 8th period and the 9th period.
When about 10 minutes remained until the end of self-training time.
“Now, everyone pay attention.”
The instructor once again gathered the students.
This time, he began his explanation while having the experienced and inexperienced groups combined.
“By now, I think everyone understands why I emphasized the importance of stat growth. The stat circuit training is arduous if your stats are low, and less difficult if they are sufficient.”
He continued.
“The static training in the training room is good, but as your rank increases, dynamic training like this will be of great help. Moreover, since these items are within the scope of the mid-term exam in the first semester, don’t be negligent.”
The higher the rank, that is, the sum of stats, the more helpful it would be.
At those words, I privately smiled.
Because I had another self that trained my stats while asleep.
If I added stat circuit training while awake, it meant double growth was possible.
While I was organizing my thoughts with satisfaction.
“Finally, I’ll end the class with an explanation about tomorrow’s lesson. Tomorrow, during the 7th and 8th periods, we will conduct classes on magic stats in earnest.”
An announcement about the next class flowed from the instructor.
Magic stat class!
Amidst the stirring atmosphere, he slowly continued.
“To explain briefly, it’s theory and practice about the basics such as magic qualities, mana breathing techniques, etc. So, gather at the stat training room before the start of the 7th period tomorrow, that’s all.”
After finishing his words, the instructor left the gymnasium just like that.
As students began to move one by one, Gangcheol Lim approached me.
“Finally, we’ll learn about magic stats!”
“Yeah.”
A tone filled with anticipation.
I felt the same way.
Since magic, unlike other stats, had been impossible to train until now, it made me all the more excited.
‘It’s going to get busy from now on.’
Feeling a surge of motivation, I left the gymnasium.
*
After dinner, I headed to the stat training room with Gangcheol Lim.
It was to check and update the change in endurance stat.
I immediately set endurance to level 8 and began the measurement.
The result.
Ding!
-Endurance Stat 8 (UP!)
Perhaps thanks to the effect of the stat circuit training.
Endurance had also increased.
“As expected, Han-il! That’s an amazing speed?!”
Amidst Gangcheol Lim’s admiration, I updated my endurance and strength in order.
Ding!
-Endurance Stat 9
Ding!
-Strength Stat 9
‘Strength 9 stats, Agility 8 stats, Endurance 9 stats, Magic 1 stat.’
A total of 27 stats.
If I increased 4 more stats to break through 30 stats.
‘It would be F+ rank.’
While storing the satisfactory results.
“I’m going.”
“Oh, see you at dawn!”
I immediately returned to the dormitory.
As soon as I entered, I threw myself onto the bed.
“Ah, I’m exhausted.”
It was because I was quite tired from dedicating the entire afternoon to stat circuit training.
“Today, it should be fine without recording, right?”
I had already checked everything that needed checking.
So there seemed no need to record.
‘Anyway, I can immediately grasp the results of the training through the smartwatch or Gangcheol Lim.’
I finished my thoughts and closed my eyes.
“I wonder which stat today······, zzz.”
The moment I completely fell asleep.
-Confirming the subject’s unconscious state.
-The subject’s initiative is being transferred to [Shadow of ????]!
-Checking synchronization rate with the subject.
Another anomaly occurred to Anil.
-Current synchronization rate······ [5%]
-The synchronization rate is very low!
-[Shadow of ????] acts according to the consciousness with faint discernment and fragments of memory!
-[Skill] imprinted in consciousness has been activated!
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Shortly after.
“Oh, Han-il! Which stat are you going to work on today?!”
At Gangcheol Lim’s question.
Swish-
Anil lightly raised his hand.
Gangcheol Lim’s gaze naturally followed where the fingertip was pointing.
Soon, his two eyes widened in surprise.
“······You don’t mean.”
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