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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Skill Reveal (3)
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Immediately after my spar with Instructor Baek Seol-hee.
Two allocated students arrived late, out of breath.
"S-Sorry!"
"Ah, we're still not used to the way yet!"
"It's fine. Being late is your own responsibility, so there's no need to apologize."
Baek Seol-hee waved it off with an indifferent attitude.
"Let's begin the next training session. It's position training. First, I plan to briefly go over the theory, so everyone find a spot and sit down."
We sat on the grass and listened attentively to her words.
Kang Do-hee sat to my right, and Shin Se-hee to my left.
"A position refers to the role one takes on in a party. You, allocated student there. What are the different positions in a party?"
Baek Seol-hee pointed to one of the latecomers and asked.
"...Uh, well. There are a total of five: [Dealer], [Tanker], [Supporter], [Healer], and [Special]!"
He stammered at first, but since it was an easy question, he soon answered with a confident voice.
"That's right. However, categorizing them into just five broad groups is too wide-ranging. Student Jin Yu-ha. Elaborate on the specific classifications of a dealer."
The other male allocated students were just called 'allocated student,' but I was called by my name.
This alone showed how much my treatment had changed in just one day.
"Dealers are divided into melee dealers and ranged dealers based on their attack range."
"And?"
"And also by the weapon they use: swordsmanship, pugilism, spearmanship, archery, blunt weapon techniques, and so on... If you try to subdivide, there's no end to it."
"Good. You know your stuff. Positions are classified into those five categories, but in reality, they branch out into much more complex types. That's why when forming a party, you need to consider various factors like enemy information, your weaknesses and strengths, and synergy with party members."
I nodded, listening to Baek Seol-hee's words.
'That's both the charm and the utterly trashy part of this game.'
In Velvetstra, even characters of the same position show stark differences in efficiency depending on their compatibility with the enemy.
Because of this, characters who were an absolute terror on the battlefield in the early scenarios would suddenly be treated like scrubs as soon as the mid-game arrived.
This was an unavoidable aspect, as Velvetstra was a game that made money by selling characters.
'They can't release new characters if the performance of the ones already pulled is so ridiculously powerful that players feel no need for the new ones.'
In other words, it was the insidious machinations of the developers to make you feel disadvantaged if you didn't have them, compelling you to pull for new characters no matter what!
However, even amidst such deliberate handicapping, some characters were called by names like 'breathing rights,' 'human rights,' and 'citizenship,' surviving to the very end.
One of them was none other than.
'Kang Do-hee.'
I turned my head to look at her.
Kang Do-hee was listening intently to the instructor with a serious expression.
She was a super-close-range combat type.
Though she was a melee dealer with clear limitations, her attack speed was so fast that she had no problem dealing with small fry.
And when her health was running low, she would use a skill called 'Berserk (狂化),'
Her already fast attack speed would increase by an additional 50%, sweeping away enemies—the sheer exhilaration of it was no joke.
Furthermore, the unique point that elevated her to the status of an essential character:
When Berserk was activated, 'Affinity Bypass' was applied as a passive.
Even against enemies that should originally take weak damage, beating them senseless in this berserk state would cause their health bar to plummet.
'That's why there was even a saying: "The puppy of Velvet Village barks twice"...'
The reason I was so determined to pull Kang Do-hee into my party was precisely because of that.
However, recalling her circumstances that Shin Se-hee had told me earlier, a frustrated sigh welled up inside me.
'Haa, clearing the game without Kang Do-hee would be an absolute nightmare...'
This Jin Yu-ha guy is truly useless.
Why did he have to enter as a male allocated student of all things?!
"...So, we form parties, and we compensate for our shortcomings. There's no difference in importance between specific positions. That concludes the theory lesson. The rest of the in-depth lessons will begin after you've officially enrolled."
Lost in thought for a moment, the theory lesson seemed to have ended without me noticing.
"Now, we will begin individual position training. First, each of you should begin training as you normally would. I will circulate and provide individual guidance."
"Yes!"
At that, Kang Do-hee stepped onto the track, seemingly ready to start her basic training from the beginning again.
Shin Se-hee, still seated, closed her eyes and seemed to be circulating her mana.
As for the two allocated students, I didn't care what they did.
And me...
I returned to where I had sparred with the instructor earlier and picked up the wooden sword.
'...She said my body wasn't accustomed to the sword yet.'
The lack of ingrained habit.
It was a detail I hadn't considered at all.
Since this power was suddenly acquired in an instant, it meant it wasn't entirely my own.
Then, shouldn't I keep swinging it until I become accustomed to it?
I gripped the wooden sword with both hands, closed my eyes, and took a deep breath.
*Inhale*—
*Exhale*—
Not a complex sword technique, but the simplest one.
Raising it above my head and bringing it down.
*Whoosh*—!
The sound of the wind being cut reached my ears.
'At least, the good thing is, swinging the sword doesn't feel painful.'
I repeated the downward stroke of the sword countless times.
The more I swung, the more I felt immersed in the sword.
Then, suddenly, I tilted my head.
'This, something feels a bit...'
I had started with the most basic sword stroke because I didn't know the standard method for internalizing a sword, but
an uncomfortable sensation began to arise in my senses.
'Is this the right blade trajectory?'
With an unsettling feeling, I raised my arm again and brought the sword down.
A sword, ultimately, is about a point to a point.
It begins with drawing a perfectly straight line between those two points.
'It's not a perfect straight line.'
A slightly subtle, curved deviation.
That was what made my senses uncomfortable.
'...Again.'
*Whoosh*—!
'...Again.'
*Whoosh*—
'...Again!'
...
As I focused on the perfect straight line, the speed at which I brought the sword down gradually slowed.
I desperately wanted to perfectly reproduce that clean straight line in my mind.
Now, the wooden sword remained raised above my head, unmoving.
Distractions faded.
In my mind's eye, only a single straight line was visible.
A speed like a slug crawling.
But my concentration sharpened even further, slowly descending towards a single, perfect sword stroke.
Eventually, a perfect vertical line was drawn.
"F-Finally..."
And when I opened my eyes.
It was night.
"Wow. Are you finally done?"
As I looked around with a bewildered expression, a clear voice interjected from beside me.
I turned my head to see Shin Se-hee squatting, smiling brightly.
"You didn't even have dinner, and you missed the joint training too."
"...What?!"
"The instructor told me to tell you. That you worked hard today, and to make sure you're not late tomorrow. That's what she said."
"...That's it?"
I had been so absorbed in the sword that I had completely lost track of time.
I didn't even receive any individual guidance, is this really okay?
When I looked at Shin Se-hee with that implied meaning, she grinned and said:
"No. It's not over yet."
"Then?"
"Mr. Jin Yu-ha."
Shin Se-hee called my name, dusted off her knees, and stood up.
Then, she took a step closer.
"You want to get close to Do-hee, right?"
"..."
"I think I can help you with that..."
* * *
Today,
Shin Se-hee was more surprised than she had ever been in her life.
The man who had looked at her with cold, piercing eyes from the moment she first saw him.
At first, it was a slight curiosity.
It was the first time she had received such a directly displeased gaze.
Honestly, she was a little jealous that he, also a special admission student, only showed interest in Kang Do-hee.
'But he, a man, managed to handle the training load of a special admission student. His performance was even better than mine, a special admission student.'
A man who entered through the male allocated quota, yet whose physical abilities were on par with special admission students.
Moreover, his appearance was outstanding, making him incredibly versatile.
His value had already risen from that point.
So, she approached him, leveraging a bit of her true nature and Kang Do-hee's story as bait.
To secure him before anyone else realized his value.
She had hoped that eating together would allow her to understand what kind of person he was, but...
All she learned was that Jin Yu-ha truly disliked her and showed a peculiar obsession with Kang Do-hee.
'Ah, and he seems wealthy enough to frequently use the Rohana Restaurant.'
Beyond that, his guard was too strong for her to probe further.
'So I was planning to slowly build rapport and gradually find his weaknesses...'
Her plan changed before the second class, due to the sudden spar between the instructor and Jin Yu-ha.
She had truly never seen anything like it.
If they had practiced those movements repeatedly, coordinating with each other, it would be one thing.
If Kang Do-hee and the instructor's spar was a fight, theirs was a dance.
Despite it clearly being their first spar, the instructor and Jin Yu-ha exchanged blows as if dancing together.
Moreover, according to the instructor, it was his first time holding a sword and his first time using his body, wasn't it?
The look of bewilderment on his face at that moment seemed genuine.
'...I want him.'
A feeling of saliva pooling in her mouth.
To think such a brilliant rough gem had been hidden within the ridiculous system of male allocated students.
But thanks to that, she had discovered him faster than anyone else.
So, Shin Se-hee once again dangled Kang Do-hee as bait.
This time, not for information, but for connection.
'At this rate... Kang Do-hee will open up to Jin Yu-ha quickly.'
She wasn't the only one who had witnessed Jin Yu-ha's swordsmanship earlier.
As Kang Do-hee watched his swordsmanship, her eyes had widened to the same extent as Shin Se-hee's.
After seeing that, could Kang Do-hee still categorize Jin Yu-ha as merely a male allocated student?
Unlikely.
This man was someone who would quickly shed those shackles and fly freely into the sky.
'So, now's the only chance. The time to play this card and intervene.'
"How about it? Getting close to Do-hee. I can help you. You'll accept my help, won't you?"
Shin Se-hee spoke with a voice full of confidence.
However.
Jin Yu-ha stared blankly at her, then gave an unexpected answer.
"...I'll accept your help, but let's make a deal instead. You'll need my help too. Don't you want to know where your lost necklace went?"
"My...?"