Academy Staff Meeting Room.
Thanks to the glass exterior walls, the view outside was clear and the scenery was pleasant.
Seated at the head of the table was a middle-aged man with streaks of white hair—Principal Park Jung-chul.
Leaning forward, he addressed the teachers sitting around the table.
“How about it? Did we find any promising students this time?”
The supervisors from the previous exam, who were in fact the academy teachers, had gathered to report about the standout students from their groups.
“I think Oh Haena was the best among them. She was almost at a B-rank level.”
“From what I saw, Min-kyu should have been the top performer. I’ve never witnessed combat skills like his before.”
“In my group, a student named Shinnoda stood out the most.”
At that moment, the principal’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
“Hmm. If I recall correctly, you also had the student Hwangje-seong under your supervision, right?”
“Hwangje-seong was indeed remarkable, but if I had to pick the best, it would be Shinnoda.”
“Explain further.”
The teacher began recounting their experience with the student.
Using merely a lowly E-Rank intellect skill combined with telekinesis, Shinnoda crushed a troll into a bead-like shape.
He even managed to instill fear in a B-rank awakened one—me.
The mention of possessing magical runes added to the intrigue.
As the explanation continued, those listening snickered and shook their heads in disbelief.
However, despite the skepticism, the teacher thought to himself:
Although Shinnoda’s use of strength seemed somewhat unstable, these were things that could be taught at the academy. Shinnoda was a top-tier gem, without a doubt.
Other teachers, though, found it hard to believe.
“It’s hard to stomach, but come on, does an E-Rank intelligence realistically crush a troll with telekinesis? During my time as a hero, I had a colleague with a B-Rank intelligence along with telekinesis, and he could barely lift a car.”
“Being scared of a student? What kind of absurd tale is that? Don’t go spreading such nonsense.”
The principal intervened to quell the outcry.
“Let’s not get too excited. Cases like this do exist. I myself, during my hunter days, have seen something similar.”
Principal Park Jung-chul had been a hunter once. Hunters were awakened individuals who ventured into dungeons in the early days when gates first appeared on Earth. With the appearance of new gates now long ceased, the hunters had faded away, yet their reputation and expertise had not.
“But their strength and experience remain. They are still highly respected in our awakened community.”
“Ability ratings don’t necessarily reflect the person’s potential, but rather the strength imposed upon them. If the individual had a high intelligence level even before awakening, achieving such feats would not be impossible.”
“Huh…”
“So, that would mean Shinnoda’s intelligence level was at least a B-Rank even before awakening.”
The principal slightly pulled back at the teachers’ reactions.
“Ho ho, it’s a speculation, but that’s how things could have unfolded. There might have been attempts to mask the ratings, and there are many variables. Nonetheless, the emergence of such a rookie is intriguing.”
The meeting moved onto another topic.
“Next, we will be addressing the budget allocation for the new semester. The magic department has requested a 20% increase…”
As usual, the tedious budget battles carried on.
—
Meanwhile, Park Hayeon was at the grocery store, picking up ingredients.
She wanted to express her gratitude to Shinnoda, who had assisted her with her rent and tuition.
‘Surprising him with dinner might make him happy…’
Arriving at the pre-informed location of Shinnoda’s office apartment, she noticed it was brand new and looked pricey just at a glance.
Climbing to the 17th floor, Park Hayeon stood at the entrance and checked her smartphone messenger; she had forgotten the password.
<Since I'll be late, you can go ahead and rest. It's 1701 and the password is 4474.>
“4474. Got it.”
She entered the apartment. It was tidy, and it felt as though its inhabitant could leave at any moment since there was only the bare minimum of possessions inside.
‘Is Shinnoda a wealthy gentleman?’
When they first met, they had dined at an expensive restaurant, and his living standard reflected someone with considerable means.
After putting away the groceries in the fridge, Hayeon began preparing dinner—spicy pork stir-fry. As she wasn’t sure of Shinnoda’s preferences, she opted for something with less controversy.
Imagining Shinnoda’s stunned face at her cooking efforts, a faint smile appeared on her lips.
—
The twilight descended.
In the cityscape where the setting sun could still be faintly seen, someone cloaked in black was crouched on a rooftop, observing the streets below.
This person was none other than the villain who had only recently started gaining attention in the public eye—the ‘Dark Knight.’
“It’s me…”
“I’m here earlier in the evening because of a significant event.”
Laura complained in his mind.
[Didn’t you promise to focus on growth in exchange for the entrance exam help? What are you doing here for three hours?]
He didn’t respond.
How could they know the magnitude of events about to unfold from here?
“Trust me. This is part of my growth.”
In his side crossbody bag lay countless items prepared for the day’s mission.
After waiting a few more minutes, at the intersection I was watching, a black fissure suddenly appeared. It was a gate.
Unfortunately, because the traffic light was green, many vehicles were sucked into the dark rift.
It had been ten years since a new gate had appeared.
And now, after the protagonist’s entrance to the academy, gates were starting to re-emerge.
This gate, appearing in the heart of Seoul, marked the beginning of the next chapter.
A passage leading to a C-rank dungeon had opened.
The original story had the protagonist entering the gate to save those pulled inside.
Though, leaving this unchecked would have Park Hayeon easily clearing it. But I couldn’t let that happen, considering a useful skill awaited inside.
It wouldn’t be bad for Park Hayeon to have it, but due to mismatched compatibility, she would likely stop using it later. This made it advantageous for me to take it.
I leaped off the rooftop.
Sharp, refreshing air brushed against my body as I descended, using telekinesis to cushion my landing after about a ten-meter descent. Thanks to my increased intelligence stat, skill usage had become more efficient.
The gate emanated an ominous dark energy. I walked towards it calmly.
“Hey! You shouldn’t go in there!”
“You need to wait for the hero to arrive.”
“Isn’t that person the Dark Knight?”
Ignoring the citizen’s protests, I stepped through the gate.
————-<Dungeon Entrance>————-
[‘The Grave of the Nameless One’ entered.]
—————————————–
It was pitch dark inside the cave, not a speck of light penetrated the gloom, making it impossible to see even a step ahead.
I took out a portable light from my bag and affixed it to myself.
A C-rank awakened individual tackling a C-rank dungeon alone—it’s not common.
Normally, the appropriate group size for an equivalent dungeon would be around four people.
“Phew. Protagonist Park Hayeon managed to pull it off. I can do this too.”
Even she might’ve had some assistance from being a ‘Species Guardian’ in the original story.
Nonetheless, this isn’t impossible. Avoid every enemy’s attack, and ensure every swing of mine lands.
Crunch. Crunch.
An unsettling sound began around me.
Crunch. Crunch.
Crunch. Crunch.
Footsteps from approaching monsters.
I knew what they were. Those loathsome creatures.
Along the cave walls, long shadows began to ripple.
‘Here they come.’
Crunch. Crunch.
Scores of legs. The noise they all made in unison was the source of the earlier sounds.
They started revealing their forms. Money Bugs or Griima. The monsters advancing toward me had the appearance of enlarged D-rank dogs.
Even though I had anticipated them, my body froze seeing them up close.
Was I scared?
No.
Not exactly.
These Griima crawling along the cave walls were simply grotesque in mass.
I calmly retrieved a gas mask and a mace from my bag.
What to do against bugs? Fire works wonders, but not in a closed, oxygen-limited cave environment. Using fire could end up killing me.
My only option is brute force.
I donned the gas mask. The restricted field of vision was inconvenient but far preferable to having their disgusting bodily fluids or remains coat my face.
I used telekinesis to create a transparent shield in front of me. Hundreds of Griima were entangled and obstructed the entire frontal path. They resembled some kind of insect fluid.
I made a hole just big enough for one Griima to squeeze through.
A single one of them lunged through the hole.
I promptly swung the mace down on the creature’s head.
Even as a D-rank monster, it was still an easy kill under my mace’s heavy blow. The Griima writhed with its dozens of legs in its death throes, but with a few more swings, it was silenced.
At the base of the dead Griima, a red gem appeared.
I picked it up, and a message appeared.
————-<Inheritance>————-
[Strength permanently increased by 008.]
[Agility permanently increased by 022.]
[Intelligence permanently increased by 004.]
[Luck permanently increased by 000.]
———————————–
The Griima corpse disintegrated into ash with blue flames. The ‘Inheritance’ skill restored my fatigue.
Normally, maintaining the telekinesis skill for extended periods would’ve been difficult, but the fatigue-restoration effect from ‘Inheritance’ allowed me to keep the transparent barrier active indefinitely.
Another Griima squeezed its head through a small crack.
I smashed its head with the mace.
Just repeat this a few hundred times.
Then the only thing left will be the dungeon boss.
