Chapter 10

It has already been a week since the academy's enrollment ceremony. As time passed, the intense interest gradually waned. The controversy over my being the top scorer in the entrance exam and the 20th group I was assigned to had settled like foam.

At this point, just a day before the first class, the 20th group, including me, was at the academy.

"Suddenly, we have to take an evaluation today! What kind of manners is this? You should have told us at least a day in advance, right? Right? Tell me, Jun-woo!"

"I don't know."

"Is not knowing an answer? Jun-woo, is the world so easy for you? Ki-hyuk, tell me. You're the group leader, aren't you?"

"Why are you saying this to us who are just standing here? Calm down. Do you have something urgent to do?"

"Urgent? Yes! I have a mountain of things to organize because of the dormitory. Why is the dormitory for first-year students a mystery? This is unfair. I'm annoyed."

"It's not a mystery but an obligation."

"Jun-woo, are you clueless? Is that important now?"

"The facilities are good. You just need to show up."

"How can you be so rude, Ki-hyuk? You don't know women at all."

"What, what don't I know? Haha!"

"Don't laugh. It makes me angry."

Mehem grumbled, and I laughed even louder.

To be honest, I was also taken aback when I received the sudden evaluation notice last night.

'Please attend the confidential evaluation scheduled for tomorrow.'

Why tell us about an evaluation just a day before? I was flabbergasted by the hasty handling.

However, my mother told me that it was much more complicated than I thought.

A group of only three people. Is this a game or what?

This was the stance of the opposition.

The recruitment of group members is the exclusive right of the group leader. Since the leader ultimately bears the responsibility, why should it matter?

This was the stance of the supporters.

Due to the intense opposition, the decision was repeatedly delayed, and in the end, it was only decided the day before the class, at the last possible moment.

"Ki-hyuk, do you know how the evaluation will be conducted?"

"Roughly?"

"!! You know? That's not like you, Ki-hyuk."

"I didn't want to know, but my mother kept talking about it all evening."

With a bit of exaggeration, I had to hear the same thing ten times, and as a result, I memorized it perfectly.

"Throughout history, there have been 12 'Group Performance Evaluation' sessions. Half of them, 6, were conducted through gate hunting, 5 through written and oral exams, and the remaining one was."

"A battle with a professor. A man Ki-hyuk knows well."

Right.

The person known for forming a small, elite group and achieving the most success.

Park Su-hyuk.

My older brother.

"Still, don't worry. We won't be hated by the professors like Ki-hyuk's brother. We won't go as far as a battle."

"Hmm."

From what I know, my brother formed a group of five, which caused controversy. As a result, he was disliked by the professors, and the evaluation led to an extreme situation where he had to face a professor in battle.

But.

We are only three. Two fewer than five.

Wouldn't the professors, who must adhere to the rules, dislike us?

I think they would.

And indeed.

My prediction was spot on.

* * *

What greeted us at the evaluation site.

Professors with sharp gazes.

Sitting on the second floor, they stared down at us as if scrutinizing every detail.

"Phew. Everyone's here."

"Watch your words."

"Everyone's here?"

"Great. But..."

Mehem lowered her voice.

"The atmosphere is not good. I think we did something wrong."

"You said it would be fine earlier."

"No way. I meant to be careful."

"Huh..."

Look at her changing her story. She's so thick-skinned.

Anyway, the atmosphere is heavy.

If someone unfamiliar with the situation saw this, they would think it was an interrogation room rather than an evaluation site.

I found it absurd and tried to suppress my laughter, but I couldn't help it when I saw a professor walking in with a serious demeanor.

"Laughing? What's so funny about being late?"

"Ah, I'm sorry. I heard a joke. But we're not late. It's 5:00, right? We're 10 minutes early."

"This is a place where professors are waiting. It's only polite to arrive 30 minutes early and greet them."

...Then, what country's etiquette is it to not greet someone on first meeting?

I met the professor's glare head-on.

He looks to be in his 30s, but he's already acting like an old fogey.

"I'm Professor Hwang Jun-yeop, known for being the youngest professor ever."

"For a lazy person, you sure know a lot."

"Being lazy doesn't mean being ignorant. Be careful. He's known for being the youngest professor."

"The youngest professor..."

I can picture the situation.

The professors, who disapprove of our deviation from the academy's educational philosophy, are using this young professor to bring us down.

He seems quite capable, and his aura is piercing my cheeks, as if he's determined to intimidate me.

He wants to instill a sense of crisis. But what can I do?

I feel more at ease. If they come at me openly, I can respond without holding back.

I stepped forward with a smirk, and Professor Hwang Jun-yeop frowned.

"This is an evaluation of students. Take it seriously."

"I tend to smile when I'm serious."

"You don't seem to grasp the situation. Tsk, you're just like your brother."

"Oh, you know my brother?"

"How could I not? He was a very arrogant junior... As a senior, I advise you to be more perceptive. If you don't want to be marked by the academy like your brother."

"Hahaha!"

Ah, this is new.

This is how it feels to hear your family insulted in front of you.

I never understood why friends who insulted each other's families were always split in half, but now I get it, having a family of my own.

'Quite unpleasant, isn't it?'

Even though I haven't even met my brother, he's still my brother.

Who are you to talk about my family?

My smirk grew wider.

I wanted to maintain a low profile for my mother's sake and to have a quieter academy life, but I abandoned that idea in this moment.

Yes, I'll live as I am. When did I start caring about this and that?

While suppressing my rising anger, another professor came forward to explain.

"...The main evaluation is to assess whether 20th group leader Park Ki-hyuk can perform the academy's educational tasks. The evaluation will be conducted by voting... Please follow the safety guidelines... It will be conducted under the supervision of the professors..."

I repeated "I agree" parrot-like, staring at the professors.

None of this matters. I just want the evaluation to start quickly.

"I'll be the judge. Both sides, come forward."

Thud, thud...

As I stepped forward, murmurs arose.

Because I was the only one who stepped forward; Mehem and Han Jun-woo quietly moved to the back.

Professor Hwang Jun-yeop's face twisted.

"Are you daring to deceive the professors?"

"Of course not."

"Arrogant!"

Ah, for some reason, this reminds me of the past. Occasionally, there were people who called me arrogant on our first meeting.

They told me to know my place. They said a commoner like me shouldn't kneel.

What happened to them?

I broke their knees. To make it easier for them to kneel.

"Baphomet."

Baphomet appeared from the broken space.

Finally, the 'Demon King' rose.

* * *

Professor Hwang Jun-yeop narrowly avoided the rain of axes from all sides.

But his relief was short-lived. A kick came out of the darkness, bending his waist.

"Ugh!"

Why did it come to this?

When did it go wrong?

Using mana deprivation to cast spells.

What is this darkness that covers everything?

What are these skeletons that are not like ordinary skeletons!

In the moment he rolled on the ground, countless thoughts flashed through his mind.

Park Su-hyuk, a distant junior. At the time, as the student council president, Hwang Jun-yeop felt inferior to his brilliant talent.

He was on a different level... It was frustrating.

Why didn't he have such talent! If he had inherited the blood of the Sword Hero family!

Leading the evaluation of Park Ki-hyuk was also due to this inferiority complex.

He wanted to break the younger brother of someone he couldn't catch up to with his own hands.

But it was a delusion.

He dodged the descending axe in a hurry. Cold sweat trickled down the back of his neck.

That kid is serious. He's genuinely trying to kill him.

Hwang Jun-yeop realized it again.

The difference in level he felt during his battle with Park Su-hyuk.

Swoosh—

"!!"

A sudden presence.

Startled, Hwang Jun-yeop swung his sword. This time, the presence came from the opposite side. He cut with his opposite sword.

His famous swift swordsmanship scattered light, cutting through the darkness.

However, the situation showed that Hwang Jun-yeop's dual swords, which should have overwhelmed the enemy with a barrage of light, were struggling to block the enemy's attacks.

Still, Hwang Jun-yeop wielded his dual swords fiercely, proving that his reputation as the youngest professor was not a lie.

The head of a skeleton fell to the ground. One, two, Hwang Jun-yeop's sword cut through the presence, and the heads fell without fail.

But it was futile.

Outnumbered.

The number of regenerating skeletons far exceeded the number of broken ones. What was the point of attacking?

Moreover, these skeletons were absurdly fast and sharp.

Attacks that Hwang Jun-yeop would normally dismiss with a sneer were now not to be taken lightly.

And most importantly, what threatened Hwang Jun-yeop was.

The real 'monster' hiding in the darkness.

"Watch your back."

"!!"

While he was momentarily distracted, a voice came from behind.

In an instant, a punch flew before he could draw his sword.

Smack!

* * *

"Ugh!!"

I laughed coldly at the sight of Hwang Jun-yeop sprawled on the ground.

Clearly, Hwang Jun-yeop is stronger than my current self. The total amount of mana is incomparable.

Yet, the one rolling on the ground is not me but Hwang Jun-yeop.

The darkness that limits vision, a few curses that affect the mind, and the skeletons.

A basic pressure tactic using only basic magic.

This is how I restrained Hwang Jun-yeop. His mind is already breaking down.

If he had used his feet, if he had the judgment to break through the darkness and choose the battlefield, it would have been a headache for me.

This is one of the things that surprised me when I came here.

The people here are far too weak compared to the power they possess.

Both mentally and physically, in every way.

An 'mana distribution' higher than the empire.

Even the 'will' of mana is faint.

In simple terms, it's easy to color it as you please.

When I first realized this, I was shocked.

From my perspective, how absurd this is.

If we rate the understanding of power from 1 to 10