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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: bchen3
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Just now.
“······Cadet Im Gangcheol, the interview is over. Call in Cadet An Ilhan next.”
“Yes, sir!”
Im Gangcheol responded energetically to Jin Taejin’s instruction.
After sending the cadet away, Jin Taejin fell into thought for a moment.
‘To think all members of Team 14 would mention Cadet An Ilhan.’
Including Cadet Im Gangcheol who just finished his interview, as well as Cadets Yoon Seolha and Cha Eunwol.
All three mentioned Cadet An Ilhan when asked about their ‘team project impressions.’
And each of the three had different reasons.
‘Passion burning like an active volcano, leadership and effort, and then consideration and talent.’
Moreover, by the time of Cadet Cha Eunwol’s interview, Jin Taejin couldn’t help but be surprised.
-The way to manipulate mana, Cadet An Ilhan taught me.
Cha Eunwol, who demonstrated an amazing level of physical enhancement during the test.
That had originated from Cadet An Ilhan.
‘I knew he had utilized mana momentarily, but······.’
He didn’t know that Cadet An Ilhan understood the sensation and mechanism well enough to teach others.
In other words, the cadet’s aptitude had exceeded his expectations.
Perhaps that was why Jin Taejin turned his gaze toward the monitor with his mouth more relaxed than usual.
On the screen was Cadet An Ilhan’s ‘student record.’
[An Ilhan]
The abbreviated student record contained everything from recent stat test records to entrance exam grades.
It even included his academy application.
Jin Taejin’s gaze, which had been skimming quickly, suddenly stopped at one place.
[Traits]
-Shadow of ???? (Unimplemented Trait)
It was none other than the [Traits] section.
The moment he confirmed the ‘Unimplemented Trait.’
“······Unimplemented trait.”
Jin Taejin’s face instantly hardened.
Suddenly, a memory from 8 years ago that he had forgotten until now flashed through his mind.
A catastrophe, literally like a disaster.
It was simultaneously a memory of a student who had been twisted by it.
‘Oh Yoonjin.’
A brilliant favorite student, but after experiencing the catastrophe, she had derailed into the villain world.
Additionally, she was the person who changed his educational philosophy from ‘observation’ to ‘active intervention.’
Though he wanted to forget, he couldn’t forget that she too was a possessor of an ‘Unimplemented Trait.’
The moment he recalled this.
“······!”
Cadet An Ilhan’s accomplishments began to overlap with her outstanding school days.
Was that why?
“Excuse me.”
Jin Taejin greeted Cadet An Ilhan, who had just entered the administration office, with a hardened expression.
“Cadet An Ilhan, sit down.”
Furthermore, Jin Taejin brought up a question that wasn’t for the personal interview.
“Do you happen to know about the ‘Unimplemented Trait’?”
“······!”
The cadet’s pupils dilated slightly.
After a brief silence, he slowly opened his mouth.
“I know it as a trait that cannot be used because the ability is not implemented.”
It wasn’t wrong.
Rather, it was exactly the definition of ‘Unimplemented Trait’ as known to the public.
Therefore, Jin Taejin changed the direction of his question.
“Have you ever had any strange experiences? Like occasionally seeing blurry images······.”
For instance, like a ‘terrible disaster.’
Jin Taejin trailed off without being able to say the latter part.
The cadet was silent for a moment at his question.
Then, with a peculiar look, he slowly opened his mouth.
“······There hasn’t been anything like that.”
“So that means it’s been in a deactivated state since your first awakening?”
“Yes.”
The second answer flowed out immediately.
Jin Taejin silently observed the cadet.
But perhaps because of his characteristically expressionless face, it was difficult to read his thoughts and emotions.
‘If it’s really in a deactivated state, that’s fortunate.’
Jin Taejin, judging that you never know, briefly traced his memories.
And then he began to reveal information he had learned about ‘Unimplemented Traits’ after that incident 8 years ago.
“Since you seem to know only the basic information about Unimplemented Traits, I’ll briefly explain. Unimplemented Traits are on a different track from ordinary traits.”
“What does that mean······.”
“Crossing dimensions beyond the ‘fissure,’ ‘inheriting’ consciousness, or even ‘foreseeing’ something.”
“······!”
“That means once the trait is implemented, you can demonstrate incomprehensible abilities that are impossible with ordinary traits.”
Perhaps it was because of the scale of the content about ‘Unimplemented Traits.’
The cadet’s pupils dilated slightly.
Having confirmed his reaction, Jin Taejin slowly continued.
“But until it’s implemented, one can’t even guess what kind of ability it is. Also, it’s difficult for an individual to gauge the impact the implemented ability will have.”
“Yes.”
“If something strange happens, or if you have any questions about the Unimplemented Trait, come see this instructor. I’ll counsel you anytime.”
Jin Taejin emphasized ‘counsel.’
Watching Cadet An Ilhan silently nodding, he thought.
‘I can’t lose a cadet to the same thing as back then. So.’
He would not repeat the same mistake.
With this resolution, Jin Taejin closed his eyes.
*
A little later.
“The interview ends here. Return to the training room and wait.”
“Yes.”
I rose from my seat at the instructor’s direction.
The moment I left the administration office.
‘······Wow, that was scary.’
As tension suddenly released, I briefly leaned my shoulder against the wall.
The reason was none other than the content of the interview with the instructor just now.
It was because an entirely unexpected question had come up.
‘Why is he suddenly asking about the Unimplemented Trait?’
After the consultation at the awakening center.
I had never once looked at the status window, including the ‘Unimplemented Trait.’
The reason was simple.
‘······I didn’t even want to see it.’
The examiner’s explanation about the Unimplemented Trait.
It felt like saying ‘you can’t become a superhuman,’ which was why.
But after hearing the instructor’s explanation, I naturally became curious.
Especially because of the ‘strange phenomenon’ he mentioned as an example.
‘Of course, none of them overlapped with what I have.’
Dimensional travel, consciousness inheritance, foreseeing something.
Each one was a story that went beyond common sense.
At a level that rivaled the anomalies surrounding me.
‘I refrained from revealing it because I don’t know what repercussions might occur, but.’
I felt the need to check it out separately.
Of course, for efficiency, I had focused on utilizing the anomalies rather than finding their cause.
But that was only because there had been no way to find out.
‘It’s not like I wasn’t interested at all.’
While walking to the training room, I called up the status window for the first time since the awakening center.
The moment I saw the semi-transparent screen characteristic of the status window.
“······!”
My eyes widened in surprise.
——-
[Status Window]
[Traits]
-Shadow of ????
Synchronization Rate 9%
[Skills]
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My Unimplemented Trait that had been in a deactivated state with no explanation.
The reason was that instead of the phrase [Deactivated], there was an inexplicable content called [Synchronization Rate 9%].
‘······I never thought the Unimplemented Trait was really the cause.’
The only difference between my first awakening and now was the ‘anomaly.’
Added to that, after hearing about the ‘Unimplemented Trait’s’ abilities that went beyond common sense from the instructor, I couldn’t not know.
Unexpectedly, the fundamental cause had been solved, but questions still remained.
[Synchronization Rate 9%]
None other than the synchronization rate.
What synchronization it referred to.
Also, why the figure of 9% had risen.
Amidst the questions swirling around, one plausible hypothesis came to mind.
‘Could it be related to the new workings of the anomaly······?’
The reason for thinking so was simple.
The first confirmed workings of the anomaly were the growth of three stats.
It was only the training of the remaining stats except for magic power.
At some point, the study of ‘mana breathing method’ was added.
‘If that’s related to the ‘synchronization rate’ in front of me?’
If new workings of the anomaly appear additionally as the synchronization rate rises······.
Just thinking about the possibility made my heart swell.
So while I was freely developing my thoughts.
“Ilhan! How was the interview?”
I had arrived at the stat training room before I knew it.
Only then did I come to my senses and nod to him.
‘I gained a huge harvest.’
As I smiled faintly, Im Gangcheol patted my shoulder.
“That’s great! The class is ending soon, so let’s get ready!”
“Get ready for what.”
“For the team dinner, of course!”
“Ah, the team dinner.”
Perhaps because the interview with the instructor had been shocking in many ways.
I had completely forgotten about it.
“You really forgot?! That hurts, Ilhan!”
I ignored him and entered deeper into the training room.
While chatting with Yoon Seolha and Cha Eunwol.
“Everyone, pay attention.”
The instructor entered the training room.
He immediately addressed the cadets.
“As I mentioned before, we’ll conduct personal interviews until the 7th period tomorrow, and from the 8th period, we’ll proceed with a new practical class, ‘Weapon Skills.'”
The new practical class, ‘Weapon Skills.’
It was a field that could be called the alpha and omega of combat-type superhumans, along with stats.
The instructor ended the last class of the day with this exciting preview.
“That’s it for today’s class. You all worked hard on the test. Dismissed.”
*
That evening.
As Im Gangcheol suggested, we all headed to the store instead of the cafeteria.
It seemed everyone was visiting the store for the first time.
“This place is like a convenience store!”
Everyone looked around the store with interested eyes.
As we each chose food, one person’s vigor was particularly fierce.
“Oh, dumplings are good! There’s cream pasta here too, Ilhan!”
None other than Im Gangcheol.
As he had always shown in the cafeteria, he was sweeping up frozen foods with fierce momentum.
I glared at him and said.
“Can you eat all that······.”
“Of course I can!”
“······Right, you probably can eat it all. But do you have that much money? This is Dutch pay, you know.”
“Oh no!”
Im Gangcheol smacked his forehead.
Just as he was about to put things back with very regretful eyes.
“It’s okay, I’ll pay.”
Cha Eunwol smiled and spoke to me.
At her words, Yoon Seolha responded with a worried expression.
“Are you sure? That seems like quite a lot······.”
“Yes, you all choose freely too. I have things to be thankful for, so I’m fine.”
Cha Eunwol answered shyly.
At her positive response, Im Gangcheol shouted.
“Oh, thank you! Eunwol!”
“······Don’t call me that.”
Leaving her grimacing behind, Im Gangcheol devoted himself to shopping again.
Only after completing the calculation of about 90,000 won did we sit facing each other at the simple table.
Enjoying the first leisure since admission, while continuing small talk.
“By the way, what did everyone talk about during the interview?”
Im Gangcheol brought up the topic of the interviews.
Then Yoon Seolha and Cha Eunwol responded with peculiar expressions.
“Just reasons for wanting to become a superhuman, impressions of the first performance evaluation······, um, about that much?”
“······Mine was similar to Seolha’s.”
Feeling like they were avoiding something, I tilted my head.
‘Hm? Is there something?’
As I was listening without much thought, my turn came.
“I was asked about traits.”
“Oh, Ilhan! What’s your trait?”
“Unimplemented Trait.”
I answered just that much.
There was no reason or need to explain in detail.
But the reaction was peculiar.
Im Gangcheol and Cha Eunwol, the two of them responded with eyes that seemed sorry.
And as for Yoon Seolha.
“······!”
She even showed a greatly startled reaction.
Then she mumbled something, but I couldn’t hear it well.
“······It’s okay! Ilhan, you’ll do well even without a trait!”
It was buried under Im Gangcheol’s booming voice.
“Yes, I think so too······!”
Even Cha Eunwol offered me comfort.
It was an understandable response.
‘Well, that’s normal. Even I didn’t look at my status window after hearing the explanation.’
In the end, the two people’s reaction was no different from the general perception of ‘Unimplemented Traits.’
But.
‘I’m different.’
To be precise, my Unimplemented Trait is different.
I have another self that has helped me achieve exceptional growth so far.
Also, although it’s still just a hypothesis, I’ve grasped the possibility that a new form of growth will appear.
‘I’ll find out before long.’
Excitement bubbled up in my heart.
So I casually responded to their comfort.
“It’s okay.”
Because I would undoubtedly be able to go higher and further than where I am now.
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