No Lies, Just Extra

“Ahahahahahahahahaha! A masterpiece, truly a masterpiece!”

Maniacal laughter echoes through the faculty room.

” ‘Oh my shit!’ Ahaha! Ahahahahahahahahaha!”

Kawar, the instigator of this situation and the instructor for Magic Combat, is holding her stomach and rolling uncontrollably on the floor, laughing hysterically. On the first day of admission, testing the clueless cadets with welcome magic was both a standard practice and her peculiar hobby.

Every time she did this, she relished the varied reactions of those adorable greenhorns. She was sure she had never seen a reaction like this before.

“Oh my shit! Oh my fucking shit! Ahaha! This is just too funny! Ahahahahahaha! I’m literally dying here! Please, someone save me! My sides are splitting! Ahahahahahahahahaha!”

While observing the uncontrollably laughing Kawar,

“*Cough*…! Cough, cough!”

Instructor Lee Sora, and

“Huh, huck-huck!”

Instructor Mykes burst into laughter as well.

Though usually stoic, even they couldn’t help laughing this time. They just couldn’t hold it back. To shout ‘Oh my shit’ at the appearance of a monster!

And it was a male cadet who said it.

Caught off guard by the outburst, they nearly died trying to suppress their laughter.

But with Kawar laughing like that, who could hold it in? They too laughed heartily and enjoyed it.

“A sight to behold, absolutely! A freaking troll! Ahaha! Ahahahahahahahaha!”

Kawar says, wiping away tears, with a sharp critique.

It was an absurd event. The panic triggered by that student, who had brought on a mass hysteria, causing other students who could have kept their composure to also fall into a chain panic. Frenzied, they futilely attacked the barrier-protected doors and windows, escalating the chaos.

In a real battle, they would have been dead.

Panic spreads like wildfire. Mass panic in a combat situation? Annihilation. And to make matters worse, other would-be heroes who would rush in to rescue the panicked group would also sustain heavy damage.

“Sigh.”

Kawar finally stops laughing and exhales.

“That cadet. His name?”

“…Seems to be Kim Geun-chul.”

The usually reserved Lee Sora returns to her typical demeanor and confirms it while looking at the register.

Kim Geun-chul.

Just the mention of the name triggers Kawar again.

“Kim Geun-chul? Ah! The one who was scolded by the Director at the entrance ceremony! That Kim Geun-chul! Freaking hell! This troublemaker!”

“…So it seems.”

“Ahahahahahahahahaha! What is this! Seriously, somebody save me! I almost died earlier from laughing, and now this cadet is trying to kill me again! Ahahahahahahahaha! Attempted murder! Attempted murder by a cadet!”

Thinking how silly it is for a cadet to be laughed at just for swearing in surprise, Lee Sora herself could hardly hold back the laughter that erupted anew.

It’s not the role of an instructor to laugh at a cadet’s disgrace.

“Aah! Anyway! So Kim Geun-chul is under your supervision, Instructor Lee Sora? What a shame! I should be managing such a cadet!”

“Indeed, that’s rather unfortunate.”

Instructor Lee Sora is responsible for Class A of the first year. Kawar feels envious. The process of tormenting such a cadet into becoming a hero seemed immensely enjoyable to her.

Kawar prefers underachievers to top students.

Top students become heroes on their own, but underachievers need proper guidance from instructors. Is it not the duty of a proud academy instructor to turn a seemingly hopeless case into a hero? It’s indeed fulfilling.

“But he seems like a cadet who’s easily scared, Instructor Lee Sora. Surely, he’ll need careful guidance. With all that fear, how can he possibly become a hero…”

Finally suppressing her laughter, Mykes speaks up, but Kawar counters.

“No, Instructor Mykes. The potential is all there. He’s just a freshman greenhorn, after all, it happens. With proper guidance from Instructor Lee Sora, he can transform into a brave warrior! The kind that bellows a powerful cry of strength!”

“Well, it seems his cry of strength was ‘Oh my shit!’ Add the ‘Argh! Shit!’ and ‘Freaking hell!’ and you have quite a variety of expressions.”

“Ahahahahahahaha! Instructor Lee Sora! Please! Stop it! I’m going to burst!”

That damned vulgar laughter.

“Phew.”

Lee Sora takes a deep breath to calm herself.

“It doesn’t matter if the cadet is scared or not. It’s the instructor’s job to guide him toward becoming a hero. But still… *ugh*! Heh!”

Never would they have thought the stoic warrior-type Instructor Lee Sora could laugh like this. Kawar throws in a teasing comment, amused by the fresh experience.

“Laugh. Go ahead and laugh. They say laughter brings fortune, Instructor Lee Sora. Argh! Shit!”

“Keh-heh-heh-heh…!”

“Stop.”

“Laughing any more at a cadet is not proper etiquette.”

“You just had a good laugh yourself… Whatever, anyway.”

They turn their attention back to the screen.

“Whether he becomes a hero or not, we’ll see during his time at the academy.”

There are always a few cadets that drop out each year. If they can just do the bare minimum, they can graduate as heroes, but even that minimum is challenging.

But with true will, one can become a hero.

“That’s why it’s our job as instructors to turn such frightened greenhorns into heroes.”

“That’s right, Instructor Kawar.”

Mykes nods in agreement.

Anyway.

“We’ve focused too much on Kim Geun-chul. Let’s have another look. At a glance, student Lee Manseok with that defensive shield and Park Minsu trying to cast magic from behind seem to have good judgment. And there, someone is nonchalantly resting his head on the desk at the back… Did he realize it was an illusion? He’s got good instincts.”

The instructors started to evaluate the remaining cadets. This is crucial as their first impressions of the students represent their tendencies. To educate them accordingly, analysis is necessary.

“Ah, and the valedictorian Leona. She’s doing very well in combat. Perhaps she’s one of those Mister Dominators’ folks. Considering the valedictorians of the past two years, Leona seems stronger.”

“From what I’ve seen, that seems true.”

Leona Kainaros.

When seeing her silver hair fluttering while brandishing a sword, it reminded them of that family.

“It’s definitely the Kainaros family.”

The Mister Dominators, a group of high-ranking Awakened who rule over Europe. She is the designated heir to the Kainaros family, a mainstay of that power structure.

Her growth is something to look forward to.

“Hmm… though there are two absentees in my class. Those kids will be penalized.”

“Who? Ryu Cheon-hwi?”

“And Lee Sihu too.”

“Absent on the first day, that’s surprising. Oh, now that I recall, Ryu Chun-hwi wasn’t at the entrance ceremony either? The Director was displeased. The top student appears to have taken after his father, seemingly with no manners.”

“…Seems likely.”

Lee Sora agrees with the comment.

“Anyway. Let’s also check the other classes.”

“Oh! Maybe there’ll be more interesting cadets in Class B! It’s my responsibility, after all!”

The instructors proceed to look through the screens of each class, noting down scores for the cadets.

* * *

Swear to God, I feel like I might cough up blood.

So freaking embarrassed.

“…”

What kind of delusion did I see to panic like that?

Am I an idiot!

Kim Geun-chul, this crazy bastard!

I’m so embarrassed I can’t breathe…! And now, as I sit here all embarrassed, a massive wave of mortification like flames of shame is pressing down on me! No! But how could I have known? It’s natural to run away crying and screaming, panicking at the sight of a monster! I’m not the weird one here!

“…”

Fortunately, I wasn’t the only one who panicked. Other students also panicked like me. So, at least I’m not alone, which is somewhat consoling. Gosh. Even the kids who grew up in this world aiming to become heroes at this school were terrified, so how could I possibly manage?

Anyway.

Looking around, I see that the students who followed my lead and screamed too are now quietly looking at their smartphones. I feel an almost comradeship with them. Maybe I’ll invite them to the snack bar after class?

I checked my wallet to see if I had my card, and there was money in it. It seems the state deposits some kind of allowance every month.

But all those embarrassing memories just keep coming back, specifically, me begging and crying for help! I’m going insane! No Men in Black to erase my memory! I’ll buy it even if it’s sold as a cash item!

As I try to calm down desperately…

–Slide!

The classroom door opens.

–Step, Step.

And in walked a cool Noona with wild red hair… It’s astonishing. She had the sharp presence of a female fighter.

And that suit fit, wow. It’s like the perfect fit of a VIP bodyguard. The outfit hugged her body so well, captivating the attention of the entire classroom.

–Click.

The woman walks to the front and stands before the podium.

“Nice to meet you. I’ll be your instructor, Lee Sora.”

An instructor?

She certainly looked like a fighter.

Her voice is also cool.

“Wow, the real Lee Sora…”

“Awesome. She’s our instructor?”

“Amazing!”

Students whisper to each other all around. Judging by their reactions, she might as well be a celebrity. Is she famous? I’ll have to look her up later.

“It seems there are cadets who know about me. If anyone is curious, find out on your own. It’s not important for the lesson. Anyway, cadets? How was your first class?”

The first class.

–A shiver.

An immediate surge of embarrassment rushes up my spine.

I start sweating.

“Tha-that…”

“Hmm.”

“It was nothing special, right?”

“Heh.”

Mixed reactions from the students.

“You’ve probably learned a lot and gained insight into what academy life will be like. Naturally, as it was a class, all instructors were watching everything from the faculty room. Now then, let’s get to the fun part of the evaluation.”

–Whoosh!

As soon as Instructor Lee Sora said that, a kind of tingling energy wraps around the classroom. Is it murderous intent? Or fighting spirit?

“Gah…!”

The students seem shocked as well.

“But before that.”

As I tensed up and awaited what was next,

“Oh my shit. Stand up.”

Why?! Why me again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!