I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City

6 – Until the Academy Opens

“It seems like you’ve been handling the sword for a long time. Are you affiliated with any particular school ()?”

“School? I don’t have anything like that.”

It’s true that I’ve handled the sword quite a bit while living as a hunter.

There were a few lessons during that time, but I don’t have anything like a swordsmanship school.

“Then… are you saying you taught yourself the sword?”

“I did receive about a month’s worth of education on the grip and basic parts.”

To be exact, it was three weeks. It was the time when I awakened my abilities and joined the Hunter Association, receiving only basic education on gates and handling weapons.

But it seems that wasn’t a satisfactory answer for Ichinose.

“A month is too short to say you learned the sword. Especially if it’s just the basics.”

Well, if you just swing it a lot, only the stances that become ingrained in your body remain.

I have no other way to explain it.

In the end, the greatest teacher who left me with the most lessons was actual combat.

Not wrong, but…

Ichinose didn’t finish her sentence and seemed to be lost in deep thought, chewing on her lips.

Watching the girl who was so sincere about the sword, I suddenly recall.

Does that mean my swordsmanship was at least worth watching?

Her intention might be different, but I feel like I received a half-hearted compliment.

I’m happy that the time I spent struggling as a hunter is being recognized.

Well, if I couldn’t handle a blade properly, I would have died in my first year.

The ability I had during my hunter days was enhanced cutting power.

It was a simple power that made the sword I swung sharper.

It was a practical ability specialized for combat, but the downside was that my ability aptitude was the lowest, F.

The power called ability was different from fantasy’s mana or martial arts’ inner energy. Each individual had a fixed amount of ability from the start, and no matter what method was used, that amount didn’t change.

Thanks to that, no matter how hard I trained, only my physical abilities improved.

And even that level couldn’t break out of the human framework. The output of my ability was still weak.

As a result, even if I moved quickly and found openings well, there were frustrating situations where I couldn’t injure monsters above a certain grade.

That point remained unchanged even as I gained more experience.

When facing high-grade monsters, I lived in deficit, using expensive consumables.

But still!

Could it be that the unsettling times I experienced as a hunter are finally over?

Maybe now Ill feel a bit less wronged.

Abyss City is different. Just the fact that I can increase my magical power made it a new world for me.

As long as I set the direction of my efforts correctly, the path is wider open than in my previous life.

Alright. I wont pry any further.

The girl nodded and wrapped her clothes warmly, as if finishing her thoughts.

I simply responded warmly.

Unfortunately, I have nothing more to tell you.

Thank you. Sorry for taking up your time.

Its alright. I wasnt busy anyway.

To Ichinose, I was just a person who drank cucumber milk and felt nauseous.

Well, Ill be going then

Ah, Ichinose!

Yes?

I stopped Ichinose Yui, who was about to leave with a nod, and turned my head.

It seemed like an opportunity to resolve a significant question.

Its strange to ask after calling you, but can I call you Ichinose?

Sure. Is that all?

No. I have one more question.

Is there something youre curious about?

Since he asked the question, it was only fair to receive an answer, so Ichinose waited for my response.

Theres a cadet Im looking for at Orion Academy.

What do you mean by a cadet youre looking for? Are you talking about their current location?

No. I just need to know if they exist. I heard they were enrolling this time, but Im not sure if they actually did.

…?

Did she sense something strange about the question? The girl tilted her head slightly in confusion.

I added more to my words in response to her reaction.

I heard they were quite skilled, so I was looking forward to seeing them, but I dont think I saw them during todays exam.

Ah… If its a name I know, I cant see why I wouldnt be able to answer.

Ichinose seemed to accept and understand this.

I immediately continued the conversation.

There are two people Im looking for.

Do you know their names? Or do you only know their appearance?

A male cadet named Lambert. He has brown hair and is handsome.

Ichinose pressed her lips together and fell into thought.

A brief silence.

Then Ichinose shook her head slightly.

Never heard of him.

Then Cynthia. A female cadet. She also has brown hair and is quite pretty.

Both were names of the protagonists from Abyss City.

If it’s a man, the name starts with Lambert, and if it’s a woman, it starts with Cynthia. They all have brown hair and are referred to as handsome or beautiful by those around them.

“I’ve never heard that name before.”

The girl also shakes her head, saying she’s never heard of it either.

I felt an odd chill run down my spine at that confirmation and bit my lower lip.

‘Strange…’

When you first meet Ichinose Yui in the game, the conversation starts with her saying she’s heard rumors about you.

This whole situation feels off somehow.

“Do you know where the two of them are from?”

“They’re probably from the Sepia Archipelago.”

The academy city is a space operated by the combined forces of three powerful nations.

The Sanhwa Nation, to which the Ichinose Yui in front of me belongs, Tigrova, the homeland of Noah Frozenheart, and the Sepia Archipelago, to which the protagonist and several key characters belong.

“If they’re from the Sepia Archipelago and a skilled student, it’s rare that I wouldn’t know them.”

“Really? Is that so…”

“There’s also a chance that I simply don’t know them, so it might be faster to look them up on the Orion Circle.”

“!”

The word Ichinose mentioned made my eyes widen.

I never imagined the existence of that app.

‘Orion Circle!’

One of the apps in Abyss City, a community used only by Orion Academy students.

In the game, when students’ worries or rumors are posted, you solve them as side quests.

I took out the smartphone from my pocket and immediately installed the Orion Circle.

Maybe this is also a new path, like an achievement.

I got stuck at the part where it asked to verify the Orion Academy student ID, but I can easily solve that once I return to the dormitory.

“Thank you. I’ll look it up now.”

“Was it helpful?”

“Extremely.”

“That’s a relief.”

Ichinose said she had to go back now and greeted me again.

I also left the dark alley to return to the dormitory.

I quietly watched Ichinose Yui as she walked away.

Seeing the direction she was heading, I hurriedly raised my voice and approached her.

“…Wait a moment!”

“What’s the matter?”

It might be unnecessary meddling, but I couldn’t just let Ichinose go that way, knowing she had a poor sense of direction.

“If you go that way, you’ll end up in the 10th district. Where are you going?”

“…”

“You’re going to the dormitory, right?”

The girl hesitated, biting her lip, and nodded slightly.

Would she think I eavesdropped on her conversation with Noah during the practical? I didn’t ask further and took out my phone to open the academy guide.

‘The girls’ dormitory was over there, right?’

After confirming with the map, I took half a step forward.

“I don’t usually do this, but I haven’t had my snack yet…”

“That can happen.”

I don’t know what the correlation is between snacks and taking the wrong path.

I nodded affirmatively beside him.

Guiding Ichinose, we headed towards the vicinity of the girls’ dormitory.

Starting the very next day.

I didn’t like this fragile body, so I began early morning exercises.

‘First, expand the vessel of the body.’

In Abyss City, the body is the foundation that holds magical power. The stronger the body, the more vast magical power it can contain.

In this world, innate talent plays a huge part, but the fact that effort can overcome some of it.

I think this is really good.

“Huff! Huff! Huff!”

First, I ran to death for stamina.

During my hunter days, I couldn’t even imagine having such weak stamina, and it made me angry.

My lungs screamed that they were dying, but out of sheer will, I didn’t slow down.

[ Runner’s High! Achievement unlocked. ]

[ You have earned 5P as an achievement reward. ]

Just before my breath gave out, the heaviness in my legs disappeared, and a notification window popped up.

‘Right. There was something like this.’

An achievement unlocked when you keep dashing even after your stamina runs out in the game.

‘More! More! More!’

Back at the dormitory, I relentlessly repeated bodyweight exercises.

Ugh!!!

Although I plan to use the fitness center inside the academy once the semester starts, it would be more comfortable if I could adapt to muscle pain and fatigue even a little.

After the workout, I took a shower and then buried my head in the bed for a short nap.

It was a perfect routine.

‘I’m so weak that the fatigue doesn’t go away.’

After sleeping deeply for two hours, I went outside the dormitory to tackle the achievements I remembered.

As I moved, I took a detour to check out the Orion Circle that Ichinose had told me about.

Just scrolling through the titles with my finger, I could sense the atmosphere.

‘It’s just an ordinary community.’

Unlike the game, the Orion Circle was filled with truly free content.

With the fresh impression, I stopped by a convenience store and bought the cheapest lottery ticket to scratch off.

It was a loss, but not a complete loss.

[ Someday, unearned income…! Achievement unlocked. ]

[ You have received 5P as an achievement reward. ]

I need some money.

Achievements like watching movies or cartoons, or eating certain foods, ultimately require money.

On days when I don’t go to the academy. To solve hunger without wasting points, a certain amount of capital is necessary.

Hmm…

After checking the app on my smartphone, the card balance is 24 coins and 60 tokens.

Roughly calculated in Korean won, that’s 246,000 won.

I won’t starve to death immediately, but it’s a rather ambiguous amount.

Once the semester starts, I need to find a part-time job.

The fact that a cadet’s part-time job requires permission from the academy is a hurdle, but it was the most definite answer.

It’s also related to achievements, and since I’ve only lived as a hunter, I want to try various jobs.

‘Let’s do whatever it takes.’

Thinking about the future excites me. How long has it been since I felt this way?

It might be the first time.

Like that.

From the moment I set my goal, my daily life became simple.

I exercised from dawn and spent the remaining time wandering around the academy city, focusing on accumulating achievements.

[ Achievement of finding lost items accomplished. ]

[ Achievement of being a photographer for dogs and cats accomplished. ]

[ Achievement of checking the expiration date of rice cakes accomplished. ]

Time melted away, and the end of February gave way to early March.

The day of the Orion Academy’s opening had dawned.