The Korea National Hunter University (KNHU).
To the public, it was the cradle of heroes. The Harvard of killing monsters. Every year, thousands of Awakened applied, but only the top 5% were accepted.
To me? It was a daycare center for arrogant children run by dinosaurs.
I sat in the back row of Lecture Hall 3, nursing a cup of lukewarm vending machine coffee. My left arm was wrapped in fresh gauze under my hoodie, the throbbing pain a constant reminder of last night's goblin.
[Channel Status: LIVE]
[Viewers: 12]
The viewer count had bumped up slightly. Word of mouth—or rather, word of divinity—travelled fast in the higher dimensions.
[God of Mischief]: Look at him, blending in with the background characters. Is this a slice-of-life anime now?
[Goddess of Love]: Shh! He looks tired. Poor baby needs sleep.
[God of War]: Why are we watching a classroom? Where is the blood? I was promised violence.
"Today, we will discuss the behavior patterns of E-Rank dungeon denizens," Professor Kim boombed from the podium.
Kim Seok-Jin. A retired B-Rank Hunter who had "injured his knee" and taken a teaching job. In my past life, I respected him. I thought his word was law.
Now? I looked at him with [Mana Perception].
His mana flow was a mess. Leaking from his dantian, clogged in his shoulders. He wasn't injured; he was just lazy and stopped training ten years ago.
"The Goblin," Professor Kim said, tapping a holographic projection of the green creature. "A cowardly, pack-oriented monster. Pay attention to this: Never engage a Goblin Scout alone. If you see one, it means there are five more hiding nearby. Standard protocol is to wait for a Tank to draw aggro, then flank."
I couldn't help it. A short, dry scoff escaped my lips.
It wasn't loud, but in the silent lecture hall, it sounded like a gunshot.
Heads turned. I saw the sneering faces of the "Golden Generation"—the kids from rich hunter families who sat in the front row.
Professor Kim stopped tapping the board. He narrowed his eyes, scanning the room until they landed on me.
"Is something funny... Student Lee Jin-Woo?"
He knew my name. Not because I was special, but because I was the lowest-ranked student in the freshman class. The 'Charity Case' who got in on a written theory scholarship despite having F-Rank mana.
I leaned back in my chair, meeting his gaze.
"Not funny, Professor. just... incorrect."
The room went dead silent.
[God of Mischief]: OH? shots fired! 🔥
[God of War]: Finally. Conflict.
Professor Kim's face turned a shade of plum. "Incorrect? You, an F-Rank cadet who has never stepped foot inside a Gate, are telling me—a veteran B-Rank Hunter—that I am incorrect?"
"Yes," I said calmly. "The textbook you're using is the 2023 edition published by the Association. It's based on data from the early Gates."
I stood up. My legs felt heavy, but my mind was sharp.
"Goblins were pack hunters. But since the 'Red Moon' phenomenon last year, their AI—or rather, their instinct—shifted. Scouts now roam up to 500 meters away from the main pack. If you wait for a Tank to draw aggro like the manual says, the Scout will scream and alert the Hobgoblins in the main camp. You'll be swarmed by elites, not grunts."
I looked around the room.
"The correct protocol isn't to wait. It's to kill the Scout instantly. Silently. Before it can take a breath."
Silence stretched.
Then, a laugh broke out from the front row.
It was Park Min-Soo. The top-ranked freshman. Son of the Ares Guild master.
"Wow," Min-Soo chuckled, turning around to face me. "Listen to the trash talk. 'Kill it instantly'? With what mana, Jin-Woo? You'd probably faint just seeing a goblin."
The class erupted in laughter.
Professor Kim smirked, crossing his arms. "Theory is easy to memorize, Mr. Lee. Anyone can read obscure papers and claim to be an expert. But here at KNHU, we value results."
He gestured to the large metal device in the corner of the stage.
The Mana Simulation Chamber.
"Since you're such an expert on 'instant kills'," Kim said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "why don't you demonstrate? If you can clear the 'Goblin Scout Scenario' solo, I'll apologize. If you fail..."
He grinned.
"I'll deduct 50 merit points for disrupting my class. That would put you on academic probation."
50 points. That was enough to get me expelled.
[God of Mischief]: THE CLASSIC TRAP CARD!
[God of War]: DO IT. SHOW THEM.
I looked at the simulator. It was an older model, creating hard-light holograms that could actually hit you. It measured reaction speed and damage output.
"And if I succeed?" I asked.
"I told you, I'll apologize," Kim scoffed.
"No," I shook my head. "An apology is worthless. If I succeed, I want a pass for all your Friday lectures for the rest of the semester. Attendance guaranteed."
I needed Fridays free to raid dungeons.
Professor Kim blinked, then laughed. "Fine! Deal. Step up, 'Expert' Lee."
I walked down the stairs. The whispers followed me.
"He's crazy."
"He's going to get wrecked."
"Look at him, he doesn't even have armor."
I stepped into the glass chamber. The door hissed shut.
[Simulation Initializing...]
[Scenario: Goblin Scout Ambush]
[Difficulty: E-Rank]
A holographic forest materialized around me. The smell of pine and dirt was synthesized by the machine.
In the center of the clearing stood a holographic Goblin.
"Begin!" Professor Kim's voice boomed over the intercom.
Usually, students would summon their weapons, buff themselves, and approach cautiously.
I didn't do that.
I closed my eyes for a fraction of a second.
[Skill Activated: Mana Perception]
The world turned into a blueprint. I saw the flow of energy powering the hologram. I saw the "hit box" located in its throat.
I didn't have a weapon. The simulator provided a standard blunt practice sword, but I left it on the rack.
Instead, I grabbed a handful of synthesized dirt from the ground.
[God of War]: DIRT? AGAIN WITH THE TRICKS?
The Goblin roared and charged.
I stood perfectly still.
The class outside was probably screaming at me to move. Min-Soo was probably laughing.
Five meters. Three meters.
The Goblin leaped, its club raised high.
I threw the dirt.
It was a dirty fighting trick, something they didn't teach in academies. The hologram's sensors registered the particles hitting its eyes and triggered a "Blindness" status effect for 0.5 seconds.
The goblin flinched.
In that opening, I stepped inside its guard.
I didn't have high stats. My Strength was a pathetic 6.
But with Mana Perception, I could see the exact point where the hologram's structural integrity was weakest. The "Critical Point."
I stiffened my fingers into a spear-hand and thrust it directly into the goblin's throat.
THWACK.
It wasn't a hard hit. It didn't need to be. It was surgically precise.
The hologram flickered. The system registered a lethal blow to the windpipe.
[CRITICAL HIT!]
[Target Neutralized.]
The goblin shattered into pixels.
[Time: 2.4 Seconds]
The simulation ended. The glass door hissed open.
I walked out, brushing the digital dust off my hands.
The lecture hall was dead silent. Jaws were literally dropping. Park Min-Soo looked like he had swallowed a lemon. Professor Kim was staring at the timer on the screen, his face pale.
2.4 seconds.
The class average was 45 seconds. The record was 15.
I looked up at the podium.
"I'll be taking those Fridays off, Professor."
[God of War]: HAHAHAHA!
[God of Mischief]: THE FACE! LOOK AT THE PROFESSOR'S FACE! 📸 SNAPSHOT SAVED.
[Goddess of Wisdom has entered the chat.]
[Goddess of Wisdom]: Efficient. Minimal energy expenditure. Maximum damage. Who is this child?
[System Alert: You have gained 200 DP for a 'Satisfying Face-Slap'.]
I walked back up the stairs to grab my bag. I didn't look at anyone. I didn't need to.
But as I reached the exit, I felt eyes on me. Not the angry stares of the boys, or the confused stares of the professor.
A cold, calculating gaze.
I glanced toward the corner of the room.
Sitting there, with a notebook perfectly aligned on her desk, was a girl with sharp eyes and jet-black hair.
Park Se-Seol. The future "Ice Witch."
She wasn't looking at the simulator. She was looking at me. And for the first time in this life, she looked interested.
I smirked internally.
'Hook, line, and sinker.'
I pushed the exit door open and left the stunned silence behind.
[Status Update]
DP: 350
Reputation (Academy): Rising
Relationship (Park Se-Seol): Curious (10/100)