Novel Bin Chapter 4: Entrance Ceremony (3)
Chapter 4: Entrance Ceremony (3)
TL/Editor: looloo
Illustrations: Here
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Special stats, as the name suggests, are extraordinary. They're traits that amplify your own abilities when mastered.
Their characteristics are unlike any others.
Eternity, Crimson Flame, Origin Power, Starlight... Even as a seasoned player, I'm unaware of the full spectrum of these stats.
Early morning.
I stepped outside to train my Nyeom.
[Name: Lee Seoha]
Strength: 3, Agility: 5, Stamina: 5, Talent: 5, Special Stat Nyeom: 1
Talents
-Reading(-)Dexterity(B+)
Skills
-None
Physiques
-Body Against Heaven(S-)
I found a suitably large open space.
In this spot, I used Nyeom to control a nearby tree branch.
Whoosh!
The branch rocketed into the sky. It moved at my command, rising, falling, swaying left and right, until it stuck firmly in the tree's center.
'Not bad, huh?'
It's not an exaggeration, the power truly is remarkable.
Of course, despite its high efficiency, Nyeom is inherently like this.
When mixed with magic, psychokinesis, or a special technique, the results multiply, but on its own, the power is rather weak.
Nevertheless, this performance seems appropriate for a special stat.
Humming a tune, I moved on.
The time had come for me to deliver a speech as the representative of the first-year students, a duty given to me as the top student in my grade.
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Raei Translations
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The entrance ceremony at the Hero Professional School was packed to the brim, thanks to the stakeholders. The space was teeming with countless attendees, leaving hardly any room to step.
Every student was a familiar face to those involved in the industry, and for those not, their parents were often public figures covered extensively by the media.
This was a spectacle unique to the Korea Hero Academy.
"Look, there's the top student. He seems to have a certain charisma..."
"During the entrance exam, they say he finished in less than a minute. The rumor is that he has some kind of dominant talent."
Whispers fill the air around me.
The more they talk, the more I try to stay cool.
'Charisma? What are they talking about?'
I'm aware of what Absolute Domination is.
It's a language spell that harnesses mana. If you cast a spell like "die split in half," that's exactly what happens to the target.
As if I would have such a thing.
I laughed off the absurd rumor.
I made my way to the front of the hall. During the Korea Hero Academy's entrance ceremony, seating was based on ranking, so I was obligated to be at the very front.
"That's Lee Seoha."
"He doesn't seem that special..."
"That's what's alarming. He's reached a level of mature power. It feels like he'll outshine every other student at the Korea Hero Academy."
As I moved forward, I noticed familiar faces.
There was the main protagonist, Kim Seohyun, and Hong Yuhwa, who was staring at me with intense eyes.
I offered them a polite greeting and sat down, observing the surroundings.
I knew everyone around me.
There was the son of Korea's richest tycoon, a hidden dragon who had obtained Lu Bu Fengxian's weapon due to his fixation with wealth. Then, there was the princess of Manyear Snow who, upon seeing a Mine, would fly into a rage and lop off an arm first thing.
"Now, we will have the pledge from the representative of the new students. Will the representative please come forward."
I stepped up onto the stage.
From this vantage point, I could see all sorts of expressions.
There were those who glared at me aggressively, others who quickly looked away when our eyes met. In the back were monsters sizing me up, evaluating me.
Journalists were snapping pictures. If I messed up here, it'd probably end up on tomorrow's front page.
"Your pledge."
Thinking that the tranquility pill I had taken earlier was a good idea, I began my pledge as calmly as I could.
"And with that, we conclude the student pledge."
Whew.
I felt my energy rapidly draining. I let out an inward sigh, but calmly made my exit.
[Your valedictory address at the entrance ceremony has attracted attention. As a reward, you have received 1,000p.]
So, points could even be earned like this.
Relaxing a bit, I continued my descent.
At a typical school, once the entrance ceremony begins, students are quickly dismissed. But this school isn't as lenient.
Suddenly, instructors emerged from one side and stood in front of us.
"All first-year Class A students, gather around!"
A powerful male voice.
This was the class where I was grouped with the main characters. Turning towards the voice, I saw a muscular man with a tan standing there.
Once I moved to the front, 99 others formed a group behind me. After all, the Korea Hero Academy accepts 100 students per class.
And half of these would likely drop out before the end of the first year.
"Nice to meet you. I am Instructor Seo Woojoo, and I will be your guide this year."
As Instructor Seo Woojoo introduced himself, cheers filled the room.
"Wow, is that Seo Woojoo, the Iron Lion?"
"My goodness, the Iron Lion is our instructor?"
Iron Lion Seo Woojoo.
He's one of the heroes expected to rise from the middle rank to the upper rank soon. If you have even the slightest interest in heroes, you would know he's a superstar in this field.
"Wow, the students are really impressive this year. Seems like the teachers are top-notch as well."
"Definitely. Didn't you hear how high the admission cutoff was this time? I thought I'd be somewhere in the middle, but I'm at the very bottom."
"Sorry."
He was well-liked by the students. But I couldn't completely enjoy it.
This teacher was a big advocate of physical training.
In other words, I was in for a tough time.
"First, everyone should understand what Korea Hero Academy is all about. Don't think of this place as your end goal. It's just the starting point."
A few students frowned at Seo Woojoo's words.
"Today's schedule is full. I hope you're not planning to relax just because it's the entrance ceremony. Korea Hero Academy evaluates everything based on grades. So if you don't step up, you'll be left behind. I hope everyone will follow me."
With that, Seo Woojoo turned around.
"So, the first order of business is choosing a weapon."nove(l)bi(n.)com
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Raei Translations
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Choosing a weapon at Korea Hero Academy is a unique event.
"Is picking a weapon that big of a deal?" one might wonder, but it really is. This is where someone might pick the weapon they'll use for the rest of their life.
50 years ago, a massive war caused worldwide fear.
The hero who ended that war and his allies founded this academy. They argued that unique weapons were necessary to identify heroes. So, they set up an exhibition of special armaments in the armory.
The weapons range from the highest S rank to the lowest D rank.
Even a D rank shouldn't be underestimated. It's a weapon designed with the latest magic technology, capable of cutting through stone even in the hands of a regular person.
But, you can't just pick any weapon. The weapons here 'choose' their 'users'.
"We will now begin the weapon selection."
Surprisingly, if a weapon at Korea Hero Academy chooses you, you receive that weapon for free.
"And as you all are aware, if you are expelled, you must return the weapon. This rule applies even if you don't graduate," said Instructor Seo Woojoo.
Despite his talk of weapons, not everything here is a weapon.
'I'm after something different.'
Sure, it would be nice to have a weapon, but right now I'm weak, no matter what I use.
Plus, the chance of a weapon choosing me, considering my 'Body Against Heaven' physique, is low.
In that case, the smart move is to find a stepping stone to grow.
After all, Korea Hero Academy makes D-ranked weapons for students like me, so it doesn't really matter.
There's only one thing I'm aiming for.
The Alchemist's Kit of Argos.
The unique thing about this kit is that it selects whoever approaches it as its master.
It's a distinctive kit since it doesn't pick its master based on their talent.
I plan to use it to create a yet-to-be-discovered artificial elixir, use it, sell it, and grow.
Once I entered the armory, various weapons were scattered about: stuck in the ground, leaning against walls, or gently floating in the sky.
'Impressive.'
It was truly awe-inspiring to see what I had only seen in the game with my own eyes.
"I'll be the one to wield the Giant's Sword that Beowulf used here!"
"Is this where the Illusionary Scripture and Crimson Magic Book used by the great hero are? The magic quality is clearly on another level."
"Everyone is dreaming big. There's a reason why the seniors couldn't decide."
Students were buzzing everywhere, eagerly scanning the armory.
"Kim Seohyun, haven't you made your pick yet?"
"I'm about to pick now. I won't make a big deal of it. Weapons are useful, but if you depend on them too much, you won't improve."
Kim Seohyun's voice echoed.
Anyway, the weapon Kim Seohyun was to choose was already known: the Sword of Fury, Gram. He accepted it because he liked its weathered look, but he was upset when he discovered it was one of the rare S-ranked weapons here.
I glanced around. Besides Kim Seohyun and a few others, everyone would eventually choose a respectable A-ranked weapon.
The S-ranked weapons were so elite that they rejected everyone who had enrolled in Korea Hero Academy so far, with only one exception.
There was Kim Seohyun and a mythical girl named Ersil from another world who possessed the soul of a transcendent being.
Not counting her and the loner who had to conceal his power because he couldn't control it.
'It looks like there might be another.'
She might not lack talent, but she's just a fantasy since she doesn't even know her talent is being suppressed.
"Unbelievable! The Giant's Sword has chosen its master? Not me, but that loner girl?"
"Who's that loner girl? I heard the weapons assess their user's talents"
"They consider not just talent, but also the level of awakening. We should keep an eye on her too."
"H-hold on! Isn't that the Sword of Dreams? The one that the 'Mistress of Illusions' used to own?"
"That was in Korea Hero Academy?"
Shouts came from every direction. It was clear without even looking that Ersil would take the Sword of Dreams, and the loner girl would get the Giant's Sword.
"Oh, I think I've found mine too?"
Kim Seohyun's eyes lit up as he watched the worn sword blade flying towards him.
The Sword of Fury, Gram.
"Did Kim Seohyun choose that old sword? Heh, I should be able to beat him soon."
"Even with your S-rank weapon, you might still lose to Kim Seohyun and his old sword."
"What did you just say?"
One by one, everyone began their search.
Should I start mine too?
Whooosh!
Suddenly, a strong ripple occurred. I turned and saw a jet-black sword creating its own ripples, held tightly in my hand.
"Huh?"
I let out a confused voice.
Could this be the one that chose me?
Sorry, but I need Argos's Alchemy Kit. I plan to create an artificial elixir and get rich.
However, I couldn't just ignore the weapon that appeared in my hand without even checking it out.
Appraisal.
Black Heavenly Demon Sword (S)
The divine sword used by the Heavenly Demon.
A sword forged using black iron and millennium stone, renowned for its maximum toughness and hardness.
It's said that a soul resides in the sword.
:Inherent skill 'Sword Spirit'
:???
:???
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However, the rank was too high to refuse.
enjoy! :)
yooo heavenly demon sword
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