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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: bchen3
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“Cadet Im Gangcheol 85 points, Cadet Lee Chan 81 points.”
Im Gangcheol’s score was quite excellent.
Not only did he beat his opponent, but he also set the highest record.
‘It was definitely between 82 and 84 points over the weekend.’
The cause was clear.
When the opponent tried to interfere by tackling him.
Thanks to not being affected at all and rather using it as momentum.
As a result, the opponent’s score dropped, and Im Gangcheol’s score rose by that much.
Perhaps that’s why.
“……crunch!”
Kang Jinsol, who was watching, gritted his teeth.
However, the anger in his eyes quickly turned into mockery.
The reason could be understood by following his gaze.
‘Cha Eunwol? Well, it seems there’s still hope.’
Cha Eunwol. He seemed to feel relieved by the fact that she was the next runner.
Judging by his openly sneering attitude, he seemed to have some confidence.
‘Well, if they know our team’s scores, I guess they could think that way.’
Their reaction was understandable.
Objectively speaking, Cha Eunwol’s scores so far had been below average.
But now it was different.
‘If he only remembers her scores from before Wednesday.’
The next result would definitely be worth watching.
Meanwhile, Cha Eunwol and the opponent team’s runner stood side by side.
‘I think her name was Noh Yumi?’
I remember seeing her walking with Kang Jinsol.
Her expression was also full of composure.
‘Let’s see how long that composure lasts.’
As I drew a faint smile, the instructor declared the start.
Bang-
Both of them kicked off the track simultaneously.
Cha Eunwol’s start wasn’t bad.
But perhaps due to the difference in stats, the gap began to widen quickly.
Snicker-
Noh Yumi moved ahead with a mocking smile.
Cha Eunwol paid no attention to this and focused on maintaining her pace.
Her calm gaze was like that of a gambler waiting for an opportunity.
Finally, when they reached the highlight of the second track, the section where balls were fired.
“……haaah.”
Cha Eunwol’s momentum changed completely.
She had begun to utilize mana in earnest.
The effect was immediate.
The speed at which she detected incoming balls, the timing of her reactions, and finally, the movements to avoid them.
Her physical abilities had evolved to the next level.
That’s when it started.
The timing when she began to close the gap with her opponent.
“……!”
Cha Eunwol pursuing with tremendous momentum.
It was a speed that couldn’t even be compared to her initial start.
Because of this, her opponent Noh Yumi’s eyes widened in surprise.
It seemed to have hurt her pride quite a bit.
“……eek!”
She gritted her teeth and ran forward.
It clearly looked like too much tension throughout her body.
Sure enough,
“Ugh!”
Noh Yumi couldn’t avoid an incoming ball in time.
It was because her body was too tense.
In contrast, Cha Eunwol maintained her pace by concentrating solely on utilizing mana without wavering.
As a result.
“Cadet Cha Eunwol 82 points, Cadet Noh Yumi 81 points.”
Cha Eunwol had caused an upset.
She had beaten the opponent who had been so dismissive of her by a 1-point difference.
Perhaps because of this, Kang Jinsol’s group gaped in shock.
“……h-how!?”
“How on earth did she improve by 20 points in just a week?!”
In their memory, Cha Eunwol was definitely in the 60-point range.
But now that a score about 20 points higher appeared before their eyes, they couldn’t help but be astonished.
But the shock didn’t end there.
“Cadet Cha Eunwol. Did you perhaps utilize mana?”
“……Yes.”
“To reach that level in less than a week. Anyway, well done.”
The secret revealed through the instructor’s mouth.
When it came to the fact that Cha Eunwol had utilized mana, they were completely speechless.
‘It might be too soon to be shocked.’
While I was thinking with a smirk.
Cha Eunwol approached me with a broad smile.
I greeted her with a simple greeting.
“Good job.”
“Yeah……!”
Hearing her reply, I stood up.
It was because my turn on the third track was approaching.
As I waited for my opponent.
“……hm?”
An unexpected figure approached me.
‘Kang Jinsol? I thought he would face Yoon Seolha.’
None other than Kang Jinsol.
He had stepped up as the runner for the third track.
‘If he had been watching our team, he would have known that Yoon Seolha was the runner for the last track.’
Despite this, the fact that he stepped up third meant the answer was clear.
He had no confidence in beating her and had passed it on to someone else.
‘Because it would be embarrassing if he fell behind in score by choosing the same track.’
Instead, he seemed to be planning to win with the total score.
It was utterly pathetic.
As I was thinking this.
“In that case, I’ll at least crush you……!”
Kang Jinsol declared war on me while grinding his teeth.
‘He had one more ulterior motive.’
I gave a smirk to him who was glaring at me.
Based on my experience with him so far, it was because I knew that small gestures were more effective than verbal responses.
As expected.
“……This guy, just you wait!”
He showed a reaction of being furious, shoulders trembling.
Satisfied with that much, just as I was about to focus on the track.
“Then begin.”
The test started just in time.
Bang-
I kicked off the track almost simultaneously with my opponent.
A similar start, but Kang Jinsol gradually pulled ahead.
It seemed he was slightly ahead of me in stats.
‘In that case……’
I needed a plan.
I didn’t have the ability to maintain ‘physical enhancement’ for a long time like Cha Eunwol.
So I needed to choose and concentrate.
‘A total of three times.’
Three physical enhancements.
I would decide the match with that.
Around the time I reached a conclusion.
Screech-!
Something shot up in front of me.
The difficult course of the third track, the ‘target board section,’ had begun.
This was precisely the first timing for physical enhancement.
Thwack!
As the target board flipped, withdrawing an extended arm, and kicking off the track again.
Among these, at the last action, the moment I was about to kick off the track.
‘……Once here.’
I immediately engaged in mana utilization.
Whoosh-
The subtle mana accumulated in my body responded.
It flowed like a wave toward my legs according to my will.
Moreover, I felt vitality surge.
Bang-
I kicked off the track with even greater force and shot forward.
Thanks to that, I was able to momentarily narrow the gap with my opponent.
Perhaps because of this.
“……!”
Kang Jinsol flinched for a moment.
Soon, he regained his composure and increased his speed.
Just as the gap was about to widen again.
Whoosh-!
Balls began to fire with fierce momentum from the front.
Since one has to perform evasive maneuvers against the balls, speed inevitably decreases.
But I didn’t reduce my speed at all.
This was precisely the second timing.
‘……Now!’
I immediately changed the form of mana utilization.
A utilization method I had learned from Cha Eunwol while teaching her.
I enhanced my reaction speed and dynamic vision.
‘As thinly as possible, spreading it evenly throughout the body.’
My senses throughout my body became clearer with the flow of mana.
At the same time, Kang Jinsol got closer and closer.
When I finally reached his shoulder.
‘Last, third timing.’
It was no longer a moment to chase him, but to overtake him.
Screech-!
The last target board of the third track shot up.
Simultaneously, balls poured out like bombardment.
Hitting the target board, avoiding the balls.
I added mana to movements that consumed time at each moment.
Whoosh-!
After reducing it second by second.
“……eek!”
I overtook Kang Jinsol.
I moved ahead, leaving the sound of gritted teeth behind.
When I finally set foot on the finish line.
“An Ilhan 91 points, Kang Jinsol 89 points.”
The results came out.
A new high score, and victory.
I looked at Kang Jinsol while catching my breath.
Then I slightly raised one corner of my mouth.
“……th-this can’t be.”
The shock must have been substantial, as no interesting reaction came back.
He just hung his head with a dumbfounded expression.
He knew it too.
The fact that our team’s last runner was Yoon Seolha.
“Good job.”
“Yeah. I’m counting on you.”
“I’ll finish up and come back.”
She added briefly and went out to the track.
The opponent was one of the cadets who had been begging Kang Jinsol to include him.
After confirming that much, I decided to watch the test with a relaxed mind.
‘She’ll crush them anyway.’
I was really looking forward to seeing what score she would end with.
…
…
…
Five minutes later.
“Cadet Yoon Seolha 100 points, Cadet Go Dongsin 84 points.”
She showed a result that crushed not only her opponent but also my expectations.
‘Im Gangcheol 85 points, Cha Eunwol 82 points, me 91 points, and Yoon Seolha 100 points.’
A total of 358 points, meaning a team score of about 89 points.
It was a near-perfect victory and achievement.
*
By the end of the 8th period.
The performance evaluations of all 50 teams were completed.
The instructor briefly announced the team scores.
As a result.
“First place goes to Team 14. Congratulations.”
We were able to achieve our goal of first place.
At the instructor’s announcement of the results, I shared joy with my teammates through eye contact.
“You’ve all worked hard so far. But now you’ve just completed the performance evaluation. There will be new classes starting from tomorrow, and the first semester midterm exams will begin in about a month.”
New classes, first semester midterm exams.
I kept the instructor’s words in mind and thought.
‘Indeed, now we’ve only completed one of the three criteria for forced transfer.’
The written and practical exams of the first semester midterms.
There were still two left.
Moreover, I had just realized through the recent result announcement that there were more formidable cadets than I had thought.
‘It was quite close.’
The score difference between our team and the 2nd and 3rd place teams wasn’t that large.
In other words, we could have lost first place if we weren’t careful.
From there, I realized.
That it wasn’t time to relax yet.
As I was newly gathering my resolve, the instructor continued.
“You’ll be able to check your individual performance evaluation scores on your smartwatches tomorrow. We will conduct individual interviews during the 9th period today and the 7th period tomorrow. Those waiting should update their stats in the training room or engage in autonomous training. That’s all, move out.”
The instructor finished explaining and turned around.
I also followed behind the cadets with my teammates toward the stat training room.
…
…
…
Shortly after.
“We’ll start the interviews with Cadet Ga Ye-eun. Follow me.”
The instructor, as announced, seemed to be proceeding with the interviews and left the training room with one cadet.
In the meantime, I engaged in stat updates as instructed by the instructor.
Perhaps because I had been running without a day’s rest.
-Strength Stat 11
-Agility Stat 10
-Stamina Stat 9
-Mana Stat 3
There was a significant change in stats overall.
A total of 33 stats, achieving F+ grade.
’28 more stats until E grade.’
28 more stats until achieving E grade within a year, one of the conditions for forced transfer.
As it was still the end of March, there was plenty of time.
After summarizing the results.
“Ilhan, over here!”
I joined my teammates to wait for my turn for the interview.
When everyone gathered, Im Gangcheol threw a proposal with his characteristic booming voice.
“You’ve all worked hard, so how about we all have a team dinner after school, friends!”
“A dinner? Are we going outside the academy?”
“Outside? Stat loss occurs in the time it takes to come and go, Ilhan!”
No, it doesn’t.
“Anyway, the snack shop! No objections, right?”
The results were good, and a simple team dinner didn’t seem bad.
‘We’ll be together until the first semester midterm exams anyway.’
As I nodded first, Cha Eunwol and Yoon Seolha followed suit.
Just as the four of us reached an agreement.
“Cha Eunwol, it’s your turn for the interview.”
The cadet who had finished the interview earlier approached Cha Eunwol to inform her of the instructor’s call.
“I’ll be back.”
“Yeah.”
And so, starting with Cha Eunwol, one by one they left their seats for the interviews.
When there were about 20 minutes left until the end of the 9th period.
“Ilhan, it’s your turn!”
My turn came.
‘I wonder what kind of interview it will be.’
With such thoughts, I headed to the administration office on the 1st floor of the Brave Building.
“Excuse me.”
“Cadet An Ilhan, sit down.”
The instructor, whose expression seemed colder than usual, greeted me.
Just as I was wondering if I had done something wrong.
“Cadet, do you perhaps know about ‘unimplemented characteristics’?”
An unexpected topic flowed from the instructor.
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