—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: bchen3
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“The 51st entrance examination will now begin!”
The atmosphere in the main hall changed immediately at the instructor’s deep shout.
Tension and trembling. It was probably because the entrance exam had entered the countdown phase.
Meanwhile, a distinctly different air could be felt from several individuals.
Sharp, keen energy.
It was like seeing a superhuman in real life that one had only encountered on the internet before.
Looking around, I noticed that the gazes of those nearby were also focused on certain individuals who exuded an extraordinary aura.
‘Who’s here?’
The moment I followed their gazes, I heard whispering.
“That boy, isn’t that Baek Yu-jin?”
“The youngest of the Shinchang Baek family? Oh, it really is him!”
Starting with the person named Baek Yu-jin, apparently the youngest of the ‘Shinchang Baek family’.
“Over there is Oh Yun-seo too? You know, from the Fifth Truth Magic Tower.”
“Ah, the second daughter of Oh Sung-han, the Magic Tower Master?”
“And there’s Shim In-wook as well?”
“Even the child of the Earth’s Soul Guild leader? Wow, this entrance exam is no joke.”
The ‘Fifth Truth Magic Tower’ and the ‘Earth’s Soul Guild’.
Even though I didn’t know the individuals’ names, I had at least heard of these families, magic towers, and guilds.
“They must be amazing people.”
As I checked them out following the gazes of people around me, somehow they all had exceptionally good looks.
It felt strange to see famous people, but I was also surprised by those who recognized each of them.
As I was observing indifferently.
“Hmph, what foolish fellows! They’re nothing but background characters!”
A husky voice came from behind me.
When I naturally turned around, a huge man was standing there.
And he had twisted his rugged face into a fierce expression.
‘…Is he a parent? Or an instructor?’
He seemed too different in many ways to be a fellow exam candidate.
Especially his size, which was outstanding.
A muscular build with a thick frame, and his face certainly didn’t look like that of a minor.
An overwhelming visual presence, though in a different sense from the famous individuals earlier.
While my gaze was captured by him.
“…Huh?”
Our eyes suddenly met.
After a few seconds of unintentionally exchanging glances.
The giant spoke first.
“You look weak.”
…You seem to be the abnormal one here.
I barely managed to hold back what I almost reflexively retorted.
Then the giant suddenly clicked his tongue and continued.
“And your eyes are dead. You think you can become a superhuman with such half-hearted resolve? Impossible!”
“…?”
“Tsk, seems you don’t understand even when I kindly explain it.”
Kindness? Explanation?
In a different sense, I couldn’t understand.
“I’ll show you the difference in power!”
The giant clenched his right fist.
His right arm muscles dynamically writhed in response.
Finding it difficult to watch, I quietly turned my head away.
Fortunately, before the giant could add anything more.
“Candidates will now move to their designated positions according to the instructors’ directions!”
The instructors began to move in earnest.
The entrance examination had begun.
The instructors who came down from the platform arranged the candidates in order and gave various instructions.
It seemed they were about to explain the examination.
So I immediately fixed my gaze on the platform.
“The first stat we’ll test is strength!”
With that shout, the instructor with the cold impression pointed to the left end of the platform.
Two strange-looking devices were placed there.
One was a ‘punch machine’ that you might see in an arcade.
The other was a ‘full-body strength meter’ that might be used in middle school physical fitness tests.
“The strength test is divided into two parts. The first is destructive power, the second is physical strength.”
Along with the explanation, the instructor demonstrated directly.
“First is destructive power. When you hit this like this…!”
BANG!
With a loud noise, numbers quickly rose on the gauge.
The result was 75.
It was truly an enormous figure.
“This is how the number is displayed. The same goes for the strength test.”
After finishing his words, the instructor stepped onto the footboard of the full-body strength meter.
He then pulled the handle connected to the chain with all his might.
Again, the numbers on the gauge rose quickly and stopped at 77.
“The average of these two records becomes your strength stat.”
In other words, the demonstrating instructor’s strength stat was 76.
Both the measurement method and calculation method were simple.
Moreover, it was more formal than the test done at the Awakening Center.
“Now we’ll begin measuring strength stats. Candidate Number 1, step forward!”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
In response to the instructor’s call, a skinny candidate approached the platform.
The official strength stat measurement had begun.
The candidate measured ‘destructive power’ and ‘strength’ in succession with awkward movements.
The result.
“Candidate Number 1! Initial strength 2 stat, final strength 2 stat. Move on to the agility test. Next!”
The result was no different from the initial stat.
Perhaps because of this, he moved to the next stat with slumped shoulders.
It felt like seeing my own future.
‘Surely, I won’t get a 1, right?’
With all the changes that had happened, it would be at least more than 1.
While I was trying to comfort myself, the turns passed quickly.
Others were not much different either.
Occasionally, some increased by about 1 stat from their initial stat.
Most had results similar to their initial stats.
‘Still, there are few with 1 stat. About ten people?’
While counting the performance of those who went before me and waiting for my turn.
“Next, Candidate Number 98!”
“Yes sir! I’m Lim Gang-cheol, sir!”
The giant who had captured my attention before the exam began stepped onto the platform.
‘…His name is Gang-cheol (Steel)?’
Whoever named him, they had chosen well.
While I was thinking that.
“…Hmm?”
Once again, my eyes met with the giant, Lim Gang-cheol.
His gaze seemed to be saying.
‘Watch closely, this is the difference in power.’
…That’s what it felt like.
When I showed no particular reaction, he turned his head away as if bored.
“Yes, Lim Gang-cheol. Your initial stat is 4, correct?”
“Yes!”
“Then start with destructive power.”
“HIYAAAH!”
THWACK!
A rather intense sound erupted.
The result?
“Your destructive power is 6.”
He had increased by 2 stats from his initial stat.
The strength measurement was similar.
“Strength is also 6. So your combined stat is 6. What was your name again?”
“Lim Gang-cheol, sir!”
“Lim Gang-cheol, I’ll remember you. Next, Candidate Number 99!”
The instructor showed a notably different reaction compared to the others thus far.
Not only that, but the surroundings also exhaled admiration, knowingly or unknowingly.
As for me?
Step, step—
I moved my feet toward the platform.
The reason was that I was number 99.
“An Il-han, is that right? Initial stat is…, 1 stat.”
“Yes.”
Perhaps because Lim Gang-cheol had just shown a strength stat of 6.
My strength stat felt needlessly shabby.
‘No, it must have increased at least.’
With a composed mind.
“Then begin.”
“Hup!”
I struck the punch machine with force.
BANG!
Along with a not bad sound, numbers appeared on the gauge.
The moment I confirmed it, my eyes widened.
Not only that, but the instructor beside me also murmured with quite a surprised look.
“…Destructive power 7. This is surprising.”
The reason was that my destructive power had come out as high as 7.
Due to the unexpected result, my head naturally turned.
Where my gaze landed, Lim Gang-cheol was standing.
After being unable to continue speaking for a while with his mouth wide open.
“…Not bad?”
He murmured in a dumbfounded voice.
The reaction of those around was a beat slower than his.
“…Wow, destructive power of 7? Amazing.”
“But he just looks so ordinary…”
“Is this person also possibly from a noble family, or something like that?”
“An Il-han? I don’t think I’ve heard that name before, hmm.”
People either exclaimed at the figure I had achieved.
Or tilted their heads in confusion while guessing my background.
All of them were unable to hide their surprise.
In a way, it was a natural reaction.
After all.
‘…For real?’
Even I was surprised.
Although my body had reacted first by immediately staring at Lim Gang-cheol, I was internally shocked.
‘No, I thought even getting a 3 would be a great result.’
To get a destructive power of 7.
Wondering if it was a mistake, I glanced at the instructor.
But he only reacted at the moment he first confirmed my score.
Afterwards, he maintained a consistently expressionless face.
‘Since he’s not saying anything, it doesn’t seem to be a machine error.’
What on earth was going on?
As I was tilting my head in confusion, the instructor shouted.
“Next, strength measurement.”
“…Yes.”
I swallowed hard and stepped onto the footboard of the meter.
With a nervous feeling, I gripped the handle and pulled with all my might.
“…Hup!”
The numbers on the gauge rose little by little and then.
Ding!
Along with the machine sound, a specific number appeared.
“Strength is also 7. Your final strength is 7 stat.”
Like the destructive power, it came out as 7, making the final result 7 stat.
The moment I heard this, I naturally looked at Lim Gang-cheol once more.
“…Ugh.”
He just made a groaning sound, without showing any other reaction.
In the moment I was coming down from the meter, still in a daze.
The instructor stopped me.
“Candidate Number 99? An Il-han, was it?”
“Yes.”
“When did you awaken?”
“Uh, that… About 7 weeks ago, sir.”
“7 weeks ago?”
The instructor’s eyes grew slightly wider.
I carefully nodded.
“November? So at 16 years old, you awakened this year?”
“That’s correct, but…”
“Hooh. Such growth in less than two months since awakening.”
The instructor murmured as if finding it extremely interesting.
I just quietly waited for his next words, not understanding his reaction.
Soon, the instructor lightly waved his hand.
“Excellent figures. Move on to the agility test.”
“Yes.”
I bowed my head and moved my feet.
As I was heading toward the center of the platform where the agility stat measurement was taking place.
I stopped momentarily, blocked by some huge shadow.
The identity was none other than the giant, Lim Gang-cheol.
He was looking down at me with blazing eyes.
‘What’s with him now.’
Is it because I outdid him just now?
However, the words that flowed from his mouth were beyond my expectation.
“Have you really only been awakened for 7 weeks?”
Did he hear the conversation just now?
He asked a similar question to the instructor.
“…What about it?”
“And your initial strength was 1 stat?”
“Yes, why?”
A sharp voice flowed out without me realizing it.
I answered that way thinking it would be tiresome to get more involved.
But the response this time was again beyond my expectation.
“I misunderstood you. I apologize, I’m sorry!”
Lim Gang-cheol bowed at a right angle with precision.
His voice was so loud that not only the surrounding candidates but also the instructor’s gaze turned towards me.
‘…Good grief.’
I covered my face with both hands.
As if my reaction didn’t matter to him at all, Lim Gang-cheol apologized in an extremely serious tone.
“To increase your strength by 6 stats in less than two months. You must have trained tremendously, even skimping on sleep.”
No, I slept a full 10 hours each day.
“And I called that ‘half-hearted resolve.’ I was wrong, I correct myself! Rather, you are ‘the real deal.'”
“Sigh, I get it, so please stop.”
I urgently cut him off and forcibly raised his shoulders.
Only then did Lim Gang-cheol lift his head and grin.
“I am Lim Gang-cheol!”
“Yeah.”
“You’re An Il-han, right? I think we’ll have a good match…”
“…?”
“So watch me! I won’t lose this time!”
With that, Lim Gang-cheol said only what he wanted to say and turned his body.
‘…This is driving me crazy.’
Getting a strength of 7, getting entangled with a tiresome style.
I was completely overwhelmed by unexpected events.
‘There are still three more stats to measure.’
As I was pressing my temples.
“Candidates who have completed the strength stat measurement, please move! Next is the agility stat!”
The instructor in charge of measuring the agility stat shouted in my direction.
Only then did I take a breath and come to my senses.
Was that why?
‘Ugh, agility will surely be 1 stat again…?’
Belatedly, worries flooded in.
But what was this?
…
…
…
“Candidate Number 99 An Il-han. Initial agility stat 1, final result is…”
The result of the agility measurement also far exceeded my expectations.
…Why?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
