Chapter 162: The Witch of the Night (3)

Chapter 162: The Witch of the Night (3)

A few days passed after that incident. I didn’t look out for either Laneige Maram or Aaron Baek during that time.

It was now time for class. The lecture hall door opened, and Professor Kane walked in. “Alright, everyone, take your seats.”

After days of unsupervised training while the professors were busy with endless meetings, his sudden return was almost a relief to see.

Professor Kane grinned as he looked over the cadets. “How was it? You all must’ve been thrilled not to see me around,

huh

?”

No one answered. Instead, they offered awkward smiles and quickly avoided his gaze.

He chuckled, unbothered. “Today’s class, actually, this entire week’s class, is going to be a little different. To help you greenhorns sharpen your practical skills, you’ll be participating in a mentoring program with the fourth-year cadets.”

The room filled with puzzled murmurs.

“A mentoring program?”

“With the fourth-years?”

It was a concept none of us, including me, had ever heard of before.

That meant they had indeed changed the curriculum. I had expected that much ever since the professors started holding those long meetings.

Professor Kane continued, “The format’s simple. Each of you will be assigned to a fourth-year party. Together, you’ll head outside the academy and hunt down a real demonic monster.”

The cadets’ faces instantly went stiff.

“Wait, outside the academy?”

“Does that mean...?”

Professor Kane explained, “That’s right. This isn’t a simulation or a mock scenario prepared by the academy. This is real combat training, actual fieldwork.”

The class rippled with unease. Even though the course was officially called Practical Combat Training, it had always been conducted under strict safety measures. During the midterm, we fought contained monsters within a secured area. For the final evaluation, our opponents weren’t even living creatures but golems created by the Republic. But this time, it was different.

“There will be no safety measures. Out there, you can run into anything, from eight-eyed demonic monsters to even stronger monsters. If you’re truly unlucky, maybe even a demon.”

A tense silence swept through the room. All cadets knew that, one day, they would face real combat as future heroes. But knowing it and standing on the edge of it were two very different things.

Professor Kane smirked at the cadets’ stiffened expressions. “Relax. We’re not throwing you out there alone. The point of this exercise is for you to observe the fourth-years as they hunt. Watch, learn, and understand how they fight.”

A few cadets relaxed. Sure, it was intimidating, but accompanying upperclassmen, especially those close to graduation, offered a sense of security. The current fourth-years, after all, were said to be among the most talented in the academy’s history. Just watching them in action would be an invaluable experience.

“The party structure will be four fourth-years and one third-year. Since the numbers don’t line up perfectly, each class will take turns joining different groups.”

One cadet cautiously asked, “Professor, how will the pairings be decided? Randomly?”

Professor Kane replied, “No, they’ll be assigned based on your overall ranking.”

He activated a small magical device on the podium, and a holographic projection lit up. “Lower-ranked cadets will join higher-ranked fourth-year parties. Conversely, top-ranked cadets will be placed in parties with lower-ranked seniors.”

“Wait, doesn’t that put the top students at a disadvantage?” someone said.

Professor Kane nodded mildly. “To some extent, yes. But if we group all the best together and all the weakest together, that would be far more dangerous.”

The cadet fell silent, unable to argue.

Professor Kane continued, “For the top-ranked among you, this won’t be about learning from your seniors. You’ll probably end up doing the heavy lifting instead. But think of it as another form of training. Accept it with humility.”

Those lower on the ranking brightened visibly, while the higher-ranked ones groaned in quiet despair.

“Alright then. Let’s start assigning parties. Step forward one at a time when your name is called.”

Thus, the party assignments for the mentoring class began.

When my turn came, Professor Kane said while looking at me, “

Ah

, right.”

He pressed his fingers against his forehead as though he suddenly felt a headache coming on. “This brat! You’re the bottom rank, aren’t you?”

That was how I found myself placed with the highest-ranked fourth-year party in the entire year.

***

A silver-haired man with a bright, carefree smile stood before me. “

Hahaha

! So, you’re that eccentric third-year everyone’s been talking about! The one who keeps his grades low on purpose, right?”

I swallowed a groan. I wondered how that ridiculous rumor even started. Considering my past behavior, it wasn’t exactly baseless, but still, unfair was unfair.

The man continued, “I’ve always wanted to ask, why do you insist on staying at the bottom? Some kind of secret reason?”

“

Ah!

Well...” I bit back the truth that it wasn’t intentional and forced a polite smile. “It just sort of ended up that way.”

“

Heh

, so there

is

a story behind it,

huh

?

Hahaha

! Well, if it’s a secret, I won’t pry.”

I’m really going to lose my mind

, I thought.

Extending his hand, he cheerfully said, “Anyway, it’s an honor to meet the academy’s most infamous underachiever. My name’s Aaron Baek.”

Shaking his hand, I replied, “Dale Han.”

“Oh, that’s right, we’re both from the Republic, aren’t we?

Hahaha

! Let’s make our homeland proud, yeah?”

Aaron’s grin was so open and friendly that it was hard not to like him.

Just as we finished shaking hands, a woman with brown hair suddenly leaned in between us. “Hiya, Junior! I’m Bella Leonhart!”

Her bright, bubbly tone was so energetic it almost sparkled. She waved enthusiastically. I bowed slightly in greeting, my eyes glinting.

Aaron Baek and Bella Leonhart were the future Meteor Spear and the Spectral Sword. Both of them would, before long, rise to the very top ranks of the Hero Ranking. This was not bad at all. I used to think there was no upside to staying at the bottom of the class, but who would’ve guessed that such a golden opportunity would fall right into my lap?

If I could get close to even one of them, it was a win. After all, weren’t those two destined to become lovers in the future? If I managed to win over one, chances were high the other would naturally follow.

Alright, then, let’s begin.

Affectionate Mode: ON

, I said to myself.

“I’ve heard quite a lot about you, Senior Aaron. Among the juniors, you’re famous. People say you’re the hero who’ll surpass the Divine Spear,” I said.

“

Haha

. Surpass my ancestor? That’s far too much praise.”

I continued, “Thanks to Headmaster Ryu’s achievements, the Ryu family’s reputation has risen immensely within the Republic, but personally, I still think the Baek family, with its long and noble tradition, is the true number one.”

Aaron’s face lit up with thinly veiled interest. “

Ahem

! I-Is that so?”

Of course, he’d take the bait. Traditionally, the Baek family had always held higher prestige, but in recent years, they had begun to fall behind the Ryus. The Ryu family had Lionel Ryu, a legendary hero whose name carried immense weight. Meanwhile, after Aaron’s father passed away, the Baek family lost its central pillar. For a young man suddenly burdened with his family’s future, a few flattering words about restoring the Baek family’s honor were bound to stir his pride.

Now, it was time for the next move.

I looked at the two of them, “By the way, Senior Aaron and Senior Bella, are you two... a couple?”

Flustered, Aaron replied, “

Eh

? N-no, not exactly.”

Bella’s eyes sparkled mischievously as she pounced on the bait. “Why? Do we look like we’re dating?”

I tilted my head, giving her a puzzled look, as if wondering why she was denying the obvious. “Are you not? I saw you two together earlier and thought you made such a perfect pair.”

“

Haha

! Really? That’s how it looked to you?” Her lips curled into a teasing grin as she jabbed Aaron’s ribs with her elbow. “Our junior’s got a good eye for things,

huh

? What do you think, Aaron?”

Aaron’s face turned red as he averted his gaze, desperately avoiding Bella’s grin. “

Ahem!

”

“It’s truly an honor to be in the same party as such outstanding seniors. I’ll make sure to learn as much as I can from you during this period,” I added.

“We’ll do our best to teach you. Let’s work well together.”

“What a polite junior! I like you already!”

I had successfully achieved a good first impression. As I smiled inwardly at the sight of Aaron and Bella beaming back at me, a sharp, curt voice cut through the air.

“Don’t trust a word that guy says,” said the voice.

When I turned, I found Raios Ryu glaring at me with hostility.

So he’s part of this party too? Great. Just great

, I thought.

I was just about to sigh when Bella’s voice snapped like a whip. “Raios! What kind of attitude is that toward our junior?”

Raios flinched, his shoulders stiffening before he immediately shrank back. “I-I didn’t mean... I was just...”

“Don’t pick fights for no reason.”

“Sorry!”

“Honestly, what’s wrong with you? Anyway, Junior! Don’t mind him, okay?”

I realized there was no need for me to step in. So, I simply offered a faint smile and looked between the three. Aaron, Bella, and Raios. It was no wonder this team was ranked at the top. The Meteor Spear, the Spectral Sword, and the Thunder Emperor were all in the same party. Even by today’s standards, they would outmatch most active-ranked hero teams.

However, that made me curious about the last member. For balance, a support-type would fit this party the best. But no name came to mind immediately.

Aaron frowned at his Hero Watch, as if about to make a call. “

Hmmm,

she’s late again.”

“Typical, isn’t it?”

Then, a voice rang out behind us. “

Haah!

Haah!

S-sorry I’m late!”

A woman with violet hair stumbled toward us, panting heavily. She was so slender it looked as if a light tap could break her, yet on her back was an enormous pack that made her knees tremble under its weight.

“I-I took too long packing.”

Bella frowned, her tone icy as she shot the violet-haired woman a cold stare. “Excuses already? Don’t you ever think of preparing in

advance?”

“S-sorry!”

“

Tch!

Whatever. Better this than showing up early and annoying everyone.”

The woman flinched at Bella’s words and bowed her head.

Aaron looked at Bella. “Bella, enough.”

“

Hmph

.”

He sighed softly, then stepped forward. “This is our final member, Laneige Maram.”

Laneige recognized me. “

Ah!

You’re...”

“

Hm

? Do you two know each other?” Aaron asked.

“N-no, not really.” Laneige hesitated, then approached me timidly and bowed deeply, almost like a subordinate before her superior. “H-hello.”

For some reason, a chill crept up my spine. A foreboding feeling whispered through my mind, that this party was not going to have a smooth time together.