I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City

2 – Placement Test -1-

Creak.

After submitting my exam paper, I quietly opened the door and stepped into the hallway.

Two people who seemed to be academy staff were standing in the hallway.

As soon as one of them saw me, they spoke up.

“The practical exam hall is on the first floor gymnasium, follow the signs over there.”

“Thank you.”

The moment I heard the destination was the gymnasium, a map formed in my head.

If the interior of Orion Academy was exactly like the game, I felt I could get there with my eyes closed.

‘Aren’t there multiple gymnasiums? Well, it must be that one.’

Using the wide staircase that had been bustling with cadets until a moment ago, now all alone.

The moment I reached the first floor.

The semi-transparent window that obstructed my view reappeared.

[ The skill window has been unlocked. ]

“!”

I naturally came to a halt.

‘If this were a game, does this mean the shortcut key K has been unlocked?’

Before I could even get a detailed explanation about the character, I was already possessed.

I was too curious about the skills I would have.

‘Is the method to view it the same as the quest window?’

I had already mastered how to open the quest window on the way here.

Just the will was enough to summon the semi-transparent window.

＜ Skills ＞

[ Weakness Grant Lv.1 ]

Grants a physical attribute weakness to the contacted target.

[ Shop Lv.1 ]

Use points to purchase items.

“Ha!”

The skill window, drawn out by the harpoon of will, floats in the air.

Its appearance excites me in a different way than the quest window. I quickly scanned the information with interest.

‘As expected.’

A subtle sheen flows over the skill names in the skill window.

Moreover, it shows levels indicating growth potential rather than grades.

It means these are unique skills that only I can use.

‘Two unique skills!’

As expected, I am S-rank.

I had anticipated it since I received a personal pickup schedule, but seeing the number of unique skills confirmed my S-rank status.

However, the skills were unique and unfamiliar for a combat-focused setup.

Is the skill called Weakness Infliction a debuff type? It seemed certain to be applicable in combat.

However, in Abyss City, the ‘Shop’ skill doesn’t clearly come to mind. There’s nothing quite like it.

“Hmm.”

I stretched my legs towards the gym as I continued to think.

‘If the shop uses points as currency, does that mean quest rewards are consumed? And Weakness Infliction…’

I don’t know how the unique skills will evolve as their levels increase.

If the attributes that can be inflicted as weaknesses diversify, it feels like a master key that allows you to form a party without excluding beloved characters.

Conversely, it would be the same for gamers who prioritize performance and clear conditions over affection.

Depending on the form of the skill, it will be essential for gamers with such tendencies.

‘This?’

The smell of what is commonly called a human rights character.

The unique scent wafted strongly from the skill.

There are a total of five gymnasiums lined up in Orion Academy.

Even that is not enough, and I can see a newly established gymnasium in the distance.

‘Were there eight when the protagonist was in the second year?’

It is natural since there are many cadets flocking from various countries, and most of the classes involve physical activities.

‘There it is.’

I see a woman sitting at a table, just like the format I saw at the entrance.

She is staring this way, twitching the rabbit ears on her head. The existence of beastmen is still fascinating.

“Are you here for the practical exam?”

“Yes. I have finished the written test.”

“You finished it very quickly!”

Awkwardly laughing at her words, I showed my student ID and number ticket.

She folded one of her ears, which had been standing up as a sign of concentration, and moved her pen over the documents.

“You can go to the first gymnasium over there.”

“Thank you.”

“Please wait inside and warm up your body, as the test will begin once the minimum number of people have gathered.”

With an affirmative response, I headed towards the gymnasium marked with the number 1.

Creak!

As I pushed open the iron door, I found no one inside.

It seemed certain that I had finished the written test the earliest among everyone.

‘What is that? Is it related to the test?’

Upon entering, I saw a large number of square stones lined up in the center, but I couldn’t figure out their purpose.

“Hmmm…”

Without stopping, I headed towards one side of the gymnasium wall.

Swords, spears, axes, guns, bows, and so on.

Seeing the wall covered with familiar weapons brought a sense of calm to my mind.

‘Indeed, this is an ideal academy. Korea should have something like this too.’

I reached out and drew a sword that was resting in its scabbard.

Srrng!

A heavy longsword.

Just by holding it, I could tell. It was a well-maintained sword. The blade was properly sharpened too.

‘The balance is good as well.’

I swung it lightly and then hung it back in its place.

Right now, it’s not the sword but something that requires focused research.

‘Are skills just used as a doctor?’

Is it possible to summon the quest window with just sheer will?

“.”

The moment I thought about wanting to use the shop skill.

Something inside me reacted.

[ Updating the shop list. ]

[ Estimated time 05:17:36 ]

‘Look at this guy?’

I laughed as I erased the translucent window.

Update or not, I immediately got the hang of the skill.

It was similar to how I handled the abilities I had as a hunter, but the points of stimulation consumed were different.

‘Just a few more tries will be enough.’

How much did I focus to firmly grasp that alien sensation?

Thud!

Someone forcefully opened the door.

“Huh? I’m not the first?”

A refreshing voice that my head remembered.

Deep within my consciousness, it resonated strongly, and my neck turned with a force that seemed like it would break.

I faced a beast-woman exuding a strong presence.

‘Noah Frozenheart!’

A member of the northern royal family and a beast-woman with the blood of the white tiger.

The long limbs and clear blue eyes, a product of noble lineage.

A dazzling smile full of confidence.

Not in the Orion Academy uniform like in the game, but in casual attire.

On the right index finger, there is even a ring symbolizing a personal weapon.

Continuing.

“Noah. It’s important to be first in the test results. Being first in order doesn’t mean anything.”

A low voice from behind.

A girl with closed eyes entered with a graceful step, her jet-black hime cut swaying.

In the girl’s pale hand was a jet-black katana, Yoru, her personal weapon.

‘Even Ichinose Yui?’

I bit my lip to keep from cheering.

Seeing the characters I truly cherished, not the ones I left at level 1, made my heart pound as if it would burst.

Was it because of the uncontrollable excitement and joy?

My gaze lost control and kept following Ichinose Yui as she moved next to Noah.

‘This is no joke…’

The petite girl, even with her eyes closed and taking steps, did not lose her composure.

Unlike Noah, she was neatly dressed in the academy uniform.

They were polar opposites.

The combination of Noah Frozenheart, who easily surpassed 170 cm, and Ichinose Yui, who barely reached 150 cm, was satisfying just to look at.

“Ah~ If only Nose had finished the written test a little earlier.”

Is ‘Nose’ a nickname for Ichinose? It was valuable information that hadn’t been revealed in the game.

As a spectator, I finally withdrew my gaze and focused on the two with my hearing. I concentrated on suppressing the corners of my mouth that wanted to form a smile.

“As I said earlier, I never asked you to wait. And unlike someone, I solved all the problems.”

Yui’s curt response was cute.

Noah laughed, moving his round ears. His refreshing voice added, “What’s the big deal about notes anyway?”

“Even so, without me, you would have gotten lost in the academy and missed the practical exam. Just be honest and say thank you.”

“That’s absurd…! There’s no way I would get lost coming here.”

Noah’s tail swished provocatively, and Yui’s voice wavered slightly in irritation.

It was a satisfying scene that extended my lifespan.

‘So the setting of being bad with directions remains.’

As I focused on the conversation and did some camouflage stretching, the cadets who had finished their notes started filling the gym one by one.

With a considerable number gathered, Gym No. 1 was done.

A man with a bored face and stubble entered, introduced himself as the instructor, and stood in the center, announcing the start of the practical exam.

“I’ll explain only once. You can only use the academy-supplied weapons hanging on the wall. Well, you don’t have to use them if you don’t want to.”

The exam was as simple as the brief explanation.

They said they would score based on the depth and width of the wounds carved into the golem.

The instructor, scratching his messy hair, walked sluggishly towards a square stone.

“You get only one attack. Feel free to strike, hit, or throw this test golem. Oh! Filming is not allowed, so put your phones away.”

Seeing the instructor casually tapping the white lump, I blinked in disbelief.

Judging by the reactions around me, it seemed like everyone knew except me.

‘Was that a golem?’

Isn’t it just a huge lump with no semblance of sincerity or appearance to be called a golem?

“The results of the class assignments will be available on the first day of the semester.”

With those words, the instructor yawned widely and looked at the paper in his hand.

“Haam… Number 99, step forward.”

Of all times, I was the first.

I took the longsword hanging on the wall and stepped forward.

“Name.”

“It’s Rohan.”

The instructor nodded and gestured towards the test golem with his chin.

“You have one minute. Start within that time.”

“…Yes.”

I raised my hand, pretending to check the hardness of the golem.

Then I focused repeatedly to use the skill.

‘The skill is similar to the abilities I used during my hunter days.’

Maybe it was thanks to the brief practice.

‘Weakness Imbuement.’

A strange wave, hard to explain, spread through my palm.

I felt a significant decrease in the energy or vitality in my body, which, in Abyss City, would be called ‘mana.’

[ Grants the target a weakness to physical attributes. ]

A successful reaction.

But there is no time to rejoice.

‘Maintaining the weakness also continuously consumes mana.’

Imprinting the information about the skill in his mind.

Before his mana ran out, he gripped the sword tightly with both hands.

Not knowing how effective the skill of granting weakness was, and since the skill level was only 1.

He didn’t expect to present a great picture with his body weakened like a sheet of paper.

If the physical resistance had decreased, he thought he might at least scratch that solid golem.

“Huuu…”

He slightly bent his knees, lowered his stance, and exhaled deeply.

The trajectory drawn in his mind was a downward strike.

“Hup!”

He raised the longsword high and brought it down with all his might.

Whoosh!

Just like that.

The moment Rohan’s swung longsword passed through the air and touched the golem.

The blade sliced through the golem like butter, heading downward.

The blade completely split the target and hit the gym floor with a thud.

The neatly split golem fell to both sides with a thud!