Chapter 5: The Academy is not easy (1)

In the director’s office at Joaquin Academy, Siegfried and Media were deep in thought, reflecting on a young man.

“Ha… I’ve been the director for almost twenty years, and this is the first time I’ve encountered something like this.”

“…”

Media sighed deeply, pressing her fingers to her temples.

“No, thank you.”

That had been Kang Geom-Ma’s response when offered a spot in the highest class, the Star class.

That class was so exclusive that getting in was said to be as hard as reaching the stars in the sky, hence its name.

Not only was it unprecedented for a student of merit to be placed there, but Kang Geom-Ma had also bluntly rejected the honor ceremony for being the top of his class.

Media recalled the expression she had seen in the infirmary. The boy with black hair and a confident attitude had shown no nerves, even when facing the heroes of the Seven Saints.

When Kang Geom-Ma had been named the best in the class, the academy elders had been outraged. But after watching the video of how he wielded the sashimi knife, they were left speechless.

The swordsmanship he had displayed was enough to impress even Media, one of the Seven Saints herself, something that hadn’t happened in over half a century.

Shaking off her thoughts, Media turned to Siegfried.

“Hey, Siegfried.”

“….”

“Let’s be honest, don’t you think our Geom-Ma is incredible?”

“Our Geom-Ma?”

“At first, the academy elders were furious, but after seeing the footage from the test, they couldn’t deny it. Are you still upset that Geom-Ma surpassed your granddaughter as the top of the class?”

Siegfried frowned in annoyance.

“Questioning the assessment of a space that carries the will of the founding hero is foolish. The academy has deemed him the best, and we simply have to accept it. It’s just that…”

Siegfried, the Sword Emperor, fell silent.

Kang Geom-Ma.

If his technique had merely been excellent, it would have made sense.

If his physical strength had been exceptional, he could have accepted it.

If his experience had been vast, it would have been understandable.

But what this young man, barely of age, had demonstrated with his sword was something else.

A movement that seemed to embody the very concept of “cutting.”

It was the state of sword enlightenment that Siegfried himself had pursued his entire life.

Yet when he had unlocked Kang Geom-Ma’s energy channels, he felt something unsettling.

The young man’s body was so fragile, as if something foreign had been forced into it, leaving it in ruins.

Was it just a coincidence? He wanted to deny it, but he couldn’t shake the thoughts from his mind.

The idea that, at his age, he was feeling rivalry toward a young man the same age as his granddaughter left him uncomfortable, like a thorn stuck in his throat.

At that moment, Media, who had slouched back in her chair, muttered something, breaking his trance.

“And on top of that, he’s got a cute face… and the way he cut down those enemies to save that girl was simply… If I were ten years younger… No, do you think I still have a chance? Hey, old man, what do you think!”

Media crossed her legs and swallowed, gazing lustfully. Siegfried furrowed his brow and shook his head.

“Do you know what young people today would call a woman like you?”

“When did you start obsessing over young people? Do you have an account on Sungstagram or something? Why are you always bringing them up?” [1]

Only then did Media straighten up in her chair, fixing her posture.

“Alright, tell me. What do they call me?”

“B*tch.”

That day, for the first time in half a century, Siegfried, the strongest man on Earth, ended up with a scratch on his face, courtesy of a “b*tch.”

***

In the days that followed, Media’s influence granted me two extra days of rest. According to her, “you need to take care of your body while you’re young.”

Despite her carefree attitude, it was clear she had a strong sense of responsibility as an educator. She seemed like someone who balanced care for the students with a reasonable approach.

Facing me was a door with a plaque that read.

⌜⎯Rang(狼)⎯⌟. [2]

Even though I had declined Media’s offer to join the Star class, I managed to negotiate my way into the Wolf class.

In exchange, they agreed to keep my position as the top student and the events of the test a secret. I didn’t want to attract any unnecessary attention or controversy, so after thinking it over, I accepted.

My goal was to get through the academy years without drama, far away from the conflicts of the upper classes. This arrangement suited me just fine.

“Phew…”

I slowly opened the door to the classroom, trying not to make any noise.

Although the exterior of the building had a gothic style, the inside was modern and clean, with long rows of desks facing a green chalkboard.

The students were chatting happily.

As I entered, I felt the brief stares of the others as they glanced at my name tag before quickly turning back to their conversations, acting as if I hadn’t even been there.

They were literally ignoring me, but it didn’t bother me. Silence responds best with more silence. That’s the way life works for those on the sidelines.

As I considered where to sit, I noticed an empty spot in the back row.

‘Oh, should I sit there?’

I pictured myself sitting in the last row, gazing out the window as the spring sun warmed me.

‘…’

I should stop being so dramatic and just sit anywhere.

I settled into a seat in the third row. I relaxed my tense shoulders and stared out the window.

I saw a pair of canaries whispering sweet nothings on a tree branch. I found myself staring blankly at the birds’ mating scene for a moment.

Knock.

While watching, absorbed in the scene, someone gently tapped my desk.

I turned my head to see a girl standing nervously in front of me, stammering.

“…Ex-excuse me.”

She was a small girl with reddish-brown, slightly curly hair, with a puppy-like expression. There was something endearing and youthful about her.

As soon as our eyes met, her face flushed, and she quickly turned her head away with a soft squeak.

“…”

“…”

After a few awkward seconds, I decided to break the silence.

She whispered in a nearly inaudible voice.

“About… the test… thank you.”

When she mentioned the test, I remembered the events. She was the girl who had almost been crushed by those psycho twins.

“Oh, that.”

“…Yes.”

Why was she speaking so formally if we were the same age?

I looked at her curiously, but she avoided my gaze, staring at the wall. It was obvious she was incredibly shy.

“It was nothing. Anyone would have done the same.”

Though I’d instinctively drawn the knife without thinking specifically of her, I couldn’t deny that, in part, my intention had been to save her.

Although I said it humbly, my comment was tinged with hypocrisy. The bitter taste of that lie lingered in my mouth.

“No! I mean it, thank you so much.”

The girl shook her head and spoke with such sincerity that I couldn’t help but smile. Before I knew it, a fatherly grin had spread across my face.

“Now that I think about it, we haven’t introduced ourselves. I’m Kang Geom-Ma.”

“My name is Chloe…”

“Nice to meet you, Chloe. I didn’t expect us to end up in the same class.”

“Yes… same here.”

She murmured her name softly, almost like a whisper.

It wasn’t a name I remembered hearing before. If I hadn’t known it, despite playing through half the game, it meant one of two things. Either she was a background character like me, or she would show up later in the story.

After thinking it over for a moment, I ruled out the second option.

The main storyline in the second half of ‘Miracle Blessing M’ focused on the battle against demons. At that point, a petite, delicate girl like her didn’t seem like she would fit in. Besides, there was an honorific attribute given to each person in the class.

‘She’s just an extra, like me.’

I smiled, feeling content.

“By the way, could you keep what happened during the test a secret?”

“Eh? Oh, of course, don’t worry.”

Chloe nodded without asking why.

“…By the way, if you don’t mind…”

Chloe started to say something awkwardly, but she was interrupted.

⎯ Shwip

The classroom door swung open.

“Everyone, take your seats!”

A booming voice echoed through the classroom.

“We’ll talk later.”

I mouthed the words to Chloe in silence.

She nodded slightly and returned to her seat.

“First of all, congratulations on being admitted. You’ve been chosen to continue the legacy of the founding hero, Balor Joaquin. Take pride in that.”

The instructor, a bulky man with a shaved head, scanned the room as if trying to memorize each face. His eyes briefly stopped on me before curling his lips into a smile. Then, with determined steps, he grabbed a piece of chalk.

“Sorry for not introducing myself earlier. I’m Lee Wonbin, the lead instructor of the Wolf class, and I’ll be in charge of you for the next year.”

After proudly introducing himself, he smiled, satisfied, despite looking nothing like someone named “Wonbin.”

“There won’t be any classes today since it’s the first day. Instead, we’ll have a simple physical training session. Go get changed and meet on the training field in 30 minutes. If you have any questions, now’s the time.”

A student with piercings raised his hand.

“Instructor, what kind of physical training are we doing?”

“It’s simple. 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and 10 laps around the training field.”

My jaw almost hit the floor in shock.

Among the students, I heard some murmuring, “That sounds easy.”

Come on, do they really think there’s no catch in this basic training? It’s obvious that the bald instructor is out to make us all bald like him. Just because he’s bald, he’s determined to make us suffer the same fate.

“If there are no more questions, get changed and meet at the training field. That’s all.”

As the students headed to the locker room, I approached the instructor.

“…Excuse me, sir.”

“What is it, Kang Geom-Ma?”

‘How does he know my name?’

But there was something more urgent than that.

“I don’t feel too well…”

“Hmm.”

The instructor squinted his eyes before a sly smile appeared on his face.

“Ah, I see. For someone like you, being the top of the class, this training probably isn’t enough, right? So, how about you train with the Star class instead? The director has authorized you to attend any class you want.”

…That damn perverted director.

“No, sir, what I meant was that I suddenly really need to use the bathroom. But now that I think about it, this training plan is perfect. I’m impressed by your excellent judgment, haha.”

Apparently, my response pleased him because he laughed and gave me a firm pat on the back.

“That’s the spirit! Alright, go get changed, and I’ll see you on the field!”

I responded with an enthusiastic “Yes, sir!” before trudging off to the locker room.

***

“D…d…damn it… this is… impossible.”

The insults swirled in my mouth.

“One, two, three, four! Come on, faster! Move!”

“Yes, sir!”

The students ran after the instructor on the vast training field.

Some of the boys ran enthusiastically, and the girls followed, laughing and chatting as if it were a stroll.

“Please…”

I felt like I was going to die. In fact, I was already half-dead.

The constant pounding from running made my stomach churn, and I could feel the bile rising in my throat.

I finally understood what it meant to see the sky turn yellow. With my insides so unsettled, the world around me also seemed tinged with yellow.

When I lagged behind a little, Chloe approached me.

“Huff, huff… Are you okay? You don’t look so good.”

I caught my breath with difficulty before turning to her.

“I’m… fine.”

“How many laps have you done?”

“I think five. Chloe, what about you? You seemed to be behind…”

“I’ve done nine laps.”

“What?”

“Come on, you can do it!”

Chloe clasped her hands to her chest and cheered me on before running ahead again.

“…”

Despite her short stature, she ran like a speedy squirrel.

T/N:

1: Reference to Instagram.

2: “Rang” (狼) means “wolf” in Korean and refers to the Chinese character 狼, which also means “wolf.”