“We will begin by selecting one student at a time from the first seed student, in order from number 1 to number 8. After that, we will proceed in reverse order from number 8 back to number 1, and each student will get to choose three teammates.”
The instructor continued the explanation.
“Student Yoo Hana, please select freely. The classes A or B don’t matter.”
At the instructor’s words, Yoo Hana slowly raised her head and began surveying the students.
As her gaze passed over each student, the tension was palpable; each student slightly flinched.
Yoo Hana had a basically cold and sharp demeanor. When she smiled, some of that sharpness would dissipate, but now, her completely expressionless face made the students feel an uncomfortable pressure.
Without emotion, she pointed her finger towards someone.
It was a fairly high-ranked girl.
The selected student hesitantly stood up and walked towards Yoo Hana, her face frozen.
Next was Johan’s turn.
His selection was Jang Hoyoan from Class B, a student who he regularly hung out with and who boasted an impressive physique.
‘Nothing particularly unusual,’ I thought indifferently, keeping an eye on the next selection.
As each seed had been making their picks without notable surprises, the students’ expressions grew increasingly tense.
“Shion, would you like to team up?”
Suddenly, someone turned and asked Shion as if gazing far into the distance.
It was Han Iri, ranked 13th.
At his words, Shion who had been called out was visibly surprised and widened her eyes.
She seemed at a loss, not immediately standing but instead asking the instructor cautiously.
“Uh… Instructor, can I refuse the selection?”
“Of course. Observing is also your free choice as a student,” the instructor nodded in agreement.
Shion bowed her head apologetically and lightly smiled at Han Iri.
“Sorry, I just want to observe carefully today.”
Han Iri, looking dumbfounded at her for a moment, seemed to make an effort to appear cool, nodding his head.
“Y-yeah! No problem!”
‘He really got rejected,’ I thought.
It was painfully awkward to watch.
Sion must be pretty popular.
“Alright, Han-gang, come quickly.”
To end the awkward situation, Han Iri hastily chose another target.
He selected Joo Han-gang, ranked 36th. Han-gang had been staring at me since the name call, seemingly convinced the eighth seed should have been him.
It was almost my turn now.
Two out of the three selections were already set, and I had already decided who I wanted to pick.
“Next, student Jung Hae-in.”
Upon the instructor’s call, I slowly got up and stepped forward as I felt everyone’s eyes on me.
“Si-woo.”
I had already decided whom to pick.
Without hesitation, I called out.
My pick was Seong Si-woo. Lately, he seemed quieter, though he continued carrying a sword as usual….
‘Anyway, he needs the experience as a team, so I brought him along.’
Moreover, the upcoming simulation of the dungeon wasn’t just going to involve dungeon clearances.
However, instead of standing up, Seong Si-woo turned to the instructor and said,
“I reject.”
‘This kid?’
I had never felt this way before—having a guy reject me.
It was an emotion I never wanted to feel again.
“Student Jung Hae-in, please select someone else.”
The instructor calmly spoke.
Sighing, my thoughts turned to the second person I’d originally planned.
“Daehyun Kim.”
The surrounding murmurs reached my ears.
“Daehyun Kim?”
“Who’s that?”
Students previously chosen had all been from the top 100 ranks, but Kim Daehyun was ranked within the 500 range.
Even Kim Daehyun himself seemed surprised to hear his name called.
I remembered him from the last unit class; he was very competent. He wasn’t just someone who was merely better than his ranking suggested.
When I acted like the team leader giving instructions, he followed my commands with complete trust and efficiency.
My conclusion was that Kim Daehyun was underrated given his ranking.
Standing next to me, Kim Daehyun whispered quietly.
“Thanks, Hae-in.”
Without saying anything, I gave a light pat on his shoulder twice.
But after being rejected by someone I initially thought of, I had no idea whom to pick next. My eyes casually scanned the training ground when a figure caught my attention.
‘Sion?’
She was staring right at me.
She who refused Han Iri’s offer before, now, directly held my gaze.
‘Ah, whatever.’
I gestured to her half-heartedly.
“Shion, you okay with it?”
Since I had already been rejected once, I wasn’t expecting her to deny me twice.
The classroom’s atmosphere instantly froze.
Han Iri looked at her with disbelief.
In reality, the choice of Sion had seemed overwhelmingly unfair, and that’s why I had excluded her from the start.
We had trained together under the guidance of the old man for a long time.
‘Five, maybe six years?’
By a rough count, we had known each other for that long.
Under everyone’s gaze, she slowly rose from her seat.
“No, not Shion.”
She walked over to me.
“Sion. Call me Sion.”
Thankfully, I was spared the embarrassment of being rejected twice in a row.
Sion positioned herself by my side and smiled softly.
The class began to buzz again.
“Are you alright?”
I asked Sion.
Han Iri was looking at Sion and me with an astonished expression.
“Just thought this much was necessary… He seemed to understand a bit better.”
She shrugged as if it were no big deal.
“…Alright.”
I sighed quietly and nodded.
Looking back, it seemed there had been a one-sided affection towards her.
Sion appeared unfazed by the atmosphere, calmly looking away.
That was the end of another round, and now there was only one spot left to fill for my team.
I asked for recommendations from the team, but no one had a specific suggestion.
If no one had particular plans, picking someone I knew might be better.
“Yoon Sanghyuk.”
As soon as I called out, Yoon Sanghyuk jumped up from the waiting area and shouted,
“Nice!!”
Nice…?
He acted like he’d been waiting with anticipation.
The unexpected reaction briefly left me stunned. Yoon Sanghyuk approached me with determination.
“I’ll work hard!”
This wasn’t his usual character; his behavior seemed exaggerated.
I gave him a quizzical look.
Then, scratching his head awkwardly, he laughed.
“Um… the last unit grade wasn’t great…”
“Sorry about that!”
Only now did I realize the test results had come out while I was in the hospital.
I asked Kim Daehyun, who was standing nearby.
“Did you too?”
He slightly nodded and scratched his head.
“Sort of… They showed grades one by one in order, and they turned out well.”
So, that’s why he was thrilled.
And yet, something occurred to me.
Judging by the earlier reactions from students like Joo Han-gang, many seemed to question how I had become a seed without a rank.
In student slang, “no rank” usually equated to being a high-ranking official’s nepotism student.
In other words, they still didn’t know who I truly was.
Kim Daehyun seemed composed and didn’t raise any questions, but Yoon Sanghyuk and Lee Sangbong…
‘Hmm…’
I turned my eyes toward Yoon Sanghyuk.
“But.”
“Hmm?”
“It’s surprising that you keep things quiet.”
Yoon Sanghyuk, with a teasing smile, shrugged.
“What to spread rumors about?”
Apparently, he was more reserved than I thought—I had judged him solely by his surface-level behavior.
“Once you get famous, there won’t be a place for me anymore.”
“Huh?”
“Need to jump in at least once before you get famous.”
Clutching his fist, Yoon Sanghyuk looked at me.
“So, thanks for letting me join!”
I shook my head with a sigh.
“Got some good friends…?”
At my side, Sion slightly smiled.
“Yeah.”
-Whoosh!!
As the team was finalized, a massive device at the front of the training ground started to operate.
Gigantic metal panels interlocked and began rotating, revealing a portal bathed in shimmering blue light.
It was reminiscent of the portal from ‘Iano’s Tomb’ I had seen earlier. Very sophisticated.
“From now on, the 8 teams will begin exploring the dungeon.”
The instructor’s voice echoed through the training grounds.
“The exercise will end once the dungeon is cleared, rewards are obtained, or you become unable to fight or run out of time.”
One by one, the students gathered into their respective teams.
Each of the eight teams stood in front of the portal, the devices beneath their feet activating, and a countdown began.
It was a tense moment indeed.
Every student’s expression stiffened with anticipation.
At that exact moment, the instructor stepped forward, drawing everyone’s focus.
“Before we begin, let’s imagine a scenario.”
The instructor’s voice was calm, but it carried an eerie undertone.
“You enter the dungeon after obtaining the formal authorization or exploration permit.”
-10
-9
-8
As she slowly walked towards us, she continued.
“But, while inside, what if you stumble upon another team?”
-7
-6
-5
“If such a situation should arise, rest assured:”
-3
-2
-1
Her voice lowered slightly.
“They will undoubtedly become your enemy.”
-0
“Could be demons, tomb raiders, or perhaps fugitives evading capture.”
Her lips curled slightly upwards.
-Re-enactment completed.
“So, if you happen to encounter another team in today’s mock dungeon exercise:”
-The entrance begins.
“Let’s hope for your victory in combat against the enemy.”
At the conclusion of the words, the blue portal blazed with intense light, teleporting the individuals through.
-End-
