Chapter 3 : Admissions Day #3 - No Kidding, I’m an Extra

He instantly jumped up and drew his sword. "Whoa!" Holding a sword like this feels unexpectedly good. It's a real sword made of metal. Who would have thought to touch an actual sword in their lifetime? Men are creatures that naturally enjoy such things. What man wouldn't appreciate wielding a genuine sword like this? "Nice sword! Alright! Aura Blade!" I imagined myself unleashing the energy within while swinging the sword with overwhelming enthusiasm, but in reality, I just made a fool of myself alone in the room. "Damn it." This requires some research. "Wait a minute!" At that moment, a significant thought flashed through his mind. If I am inside a game, there's something I definitely should say! "Status window!" -Ding! With his shout came a cheerful sound! ――――――――――――――――― [Status Window - Kim Geun Cheol] [Rank: F] 「Strength: 13」 「Dexterity: 12」 「Stamina: 12」 「Endurance: 10」 「Magic: 10」 ――――――――――――――――― "What are these damn stats!" This is pathetic! "These stats are absolutely useless...!" What kind of starting stats are these? Just looking at them is exhausting. Anyone can tell that this is a ridiculously weak F-rank status window. [Skills Possessed] 「Weapon Enchant」 "But I have a skill?" At the bottom of the status window, there was a section for skills possessed. The only entry was a skill called "Weapon Enchant." Yet, having some sort of skill brought a slight sense of satisfaction. Just as he thought to check more information, something popped up. [Weapon Enchant] -A skill that envelops a weapon with magic. The magic surrounding the blade will more easily slice through the dimension shields of otherworldly creatures. "Oh!" Thanks for the helpful explanation! "This is practically an Aura Blade!" It seemed like a skill to infuse magic into a sword. It appears that if magic is imbued into the sword, it could easily penetrate the shields of beings from another dimension. "There are even more detailed descriptions." Let's take a look. [Weapon Enchant] (Skill Rank: F) (Lv.1) "Huh?" He carefully read the information shown. So... the skill's rank is F. And it's at level 1? In simple terms, it's just a basic skill, and since it lacks mastery, it's stuck at level 1. "I feel like I want to sit down and cry." It's disheartening for sure. But it’s better than having nothing. Right, there were coins as well. Thinking about it summoned another window. [Coins Possessed: 100] (Inactive) "Activate them, you fool." For now, they can't be used. Are there more pieces of information available? He tried various things, but aside from the status window, nothing noteworthy appeared. Anyway, some time passed. Once more, he took a seat in front of the computer to investigate anything he could learn. While doing so, it hit him. "It's time." Time to gather in the classroom had arrived. "First Grade A-Class, huh." Does this mean he must grow by receiving superhuman education in this class at the academy? For now, it seems necessary, but how does he really go home? Following typical clichés, one must defeat a final boss to return, but... does he actually need to do that just to get back home? "Save me, damn it." For now, let's head to the classroom. Being late on the first day isn't an option. * * * The path to the classroom was quite tranquil. It's an enormous space. Furthermore, the students moved around sparsely, allowing a sense of ease to settle in. This place is gigantic. The actual size is incomprehensible. It resembles a fortress with a castle-like main building surrounded by a circular wall. Additionally, sizable annexes are arranged on all sides. If you told someone it was the capital of someplace, they'd believe you. "They have anti-air turrets." Moreover, even anti-aircraft turrets were installed on each rooftop, indicating something substantial. Could it be that monsters would invade the academy? Such anxiety began to rise. If such creatures actually appeared, a commoner like him wouldn't stand a chance. Might end up screaming. Or begging for mercy with tears. "Sigh." Anyway, it's like going back to high school. Here, at 24, I find myself in school, as a high schooler once again, evoking a strange sense nostalgia. Though I can't get used to the uniform and the sword. As he moved, he found the main gate near the wall. First-year students seem to enter this way. He followed the other students through the main entrance and arrived at the door of the First Grade A-Class classroom. -Creak. "Oh." Upon opening the door and stepping inside, he couldn't help but be amazed. This is way too fancy! No kidding, the classroom was entirely white-themed. There wasn’t a single one of those worn desks and chairs from school days; everything was furnished with luxury items. Truly opulent, and the room was quite spacious. Within were already students, gathered in groups of threes and fours, talking while holding their weapons. It's really hard to get used to those weapons. The sword designs are all different. His is plain, but others are flashy. There are even spears and axes. "Didn't the chairman look really cool?" "Yeah... they say he's a Black Yaksha. It's my first time seeing him in person." "But how is he so young? Looks like he's only in his late twenties." "Oh, right. How old did they say he actually is?" "No one knows. More importantly, about that shouting kid." "Oh, the one who cursed. Got immediately reprimanded." "Even on orientation day, shouting like that was unexpected, honestly." "I hear he's always been like that. If he gets worked up, he even yells at the supreme ruler, tipping over tables." "As expected from a war hero." "It's Jeon Woo Rae, after all." Feeling a bit embarrassed about being the topic, he pretended not to notice and found his seat. If he acted like he didn't hear, would they know it was him? Best to keep quiet. But what's a supreme ruler? And a war hero—a title that doesn’t seem to refer to the heroes of the Korean War. I'll have to look into that later. "Where's my seat?" A message indicated to sit at his assigned seat. He found a desk marked as his and sat down. "Oh." The chair's comfort was nothing short of amazing. It's nerve-wracking, though, to think about having to attend school starting today. With nothing else to do, he browsed his phone to gather information about this world. -Creak. "Hey, everyone! Let's get along from today!" "Oh. Nice to meet you." The students started trickling into the classroom one by one. So these are all superhumans. There were ordinary-looking ones, but also many built like potential generals. Why are there so many foreigners? And those with black hair were a minority. Everyone seemed to intensely bleach their hair—enough to worry about their scalp health. Just then, -Creak. "Huh." "Who?" "Who's that?" The door opened, and a beautiful woman with silver hair stepped inside. For a moment, he was captivated. Wasn't she the same Le Ona who gave the oath at the entrance ceremony? "…" She was overwhelming. The other students were similarly entranced. Le Ona quietly took her seat. How intriguing. So, the clock struck 1 PM. There were a few empty seats, but most of the students were seated. How diligent they all are. Ah, but I really want to hit the convenience store. Surely there must be one? Transformed into a high-school student again, he suddenly craved snacks intensely. Even a pizza or Pizza Holic would be enticing. If there's none, there will be hell to pay. "Are we supposed to wait?" "Someone will probably come soon, right?" "Ah... I'm getting nervous." Someone will come, for sure. But what about a quest window or something? They guided us to the entrance ceremony; shouldn't there be more instructions now? Is this an open world? This system is shirking its duties. With such thoughts, he was searching when suddenly— -BEEEEEEEEEEEEEP! An emergency siren blared out of nowhere. "Huh?" "What?" "Hmm?" Being from Korea, he felt nothing of it. He'd grown up in a world where emergency alarms sound without any actual emergencies. And then— -Crackle! Crackle! Suddenly, something like a warp gate opened where the teacher's desk was. "What, what is that?" "Damn it! What's going on?" "A dimension gate...!" From within— -Grrrrroooooooar!! Some giant, monster-like spider crawled out. "Oh my God, noooooo!!!!" What is that, damn it! A spider! A giant spider! It was so big that it took up about sixty percent of the classroom’s width, tearing through the warp gate! It was so horrifying that it was hard to even describe! It looked like a spider but wasn't...! A monstrous creature based on a spider! Its mouth was filled with venomous fangs and tentacles, its legs covered in a hard exoskeleton! "Ahhhhhhhhhhh!" "Why, why is there a monster in here!" "That's a Warp Spider...! Of that size, it’s beyond maturity! At least a C-rank beast!" Other students were equally shocked! But aren't you all superhumans?! I just got here, but didn't you all come to this school to become heroic superhumans?! What are you going to do if you're scared?!! "Dammit! We have to get out!" He sprinted towards the door! This isn't a joke...! That's a real monster! Monsters tear people apart! Save me! I cannot die here! I can't die to such a monstrous creature! -Bang! Bang! But the door wouldn't open, as if it were locked! "Ahhhhhhhhhh! The door won't open! Guys! The window! Break the window! Quicklyyyy!" Barely suppressing the rising panic, he rallied the students! Tears welled up! I'm not dying here! I will survive no matter what! The moment at the computer earlier overlapped in his mind...! I will not die! I cannot die! "Ahhhhh!" "Break! Break!" "Move aside! Sword Aura!" "Ma-magical Shot!" While some students drew weapons and fired off some kind of technique and magic at the window, a battle erupted from the other side. -Swoosh! "Huh?" Silver hair fluttered. Leona, with silver flames engulfing her longsword, charged at the spider without hesitation—what a maniac! -Whoosh! She wasn't alone! Several students also stood behind Leona, conjuring some foreign flames of their own, preparing to intercept! They're all crazy! Those guys are insane! Do you mean to tell me a bunch of teenagers are going to fight such a monster? Even if they're superhumans, defeating a creature that appears stronger than an elephant with just a weapon seems impossible...! "Damn it! The window! It won't break! Guys! Attack together! We must strike together! We need to combine our strength! Ugh!" Tears flowed as he desperately rallied the students to break the window! Nothing is stronger than the power of friendship! If we combine our strength, we can smash through the window! "Okay, got it!" "Yeah!" "Break it quick, please!" "Mommyyyyyyyyy!" He too grabbed his sword and struck at the window, but it was like hitting bulletproof glass; not even a scratch! "We have to live, we have to live, we have to live...! Ughhhh!" I cannot die in this place...! Then— —BOOM!!! A deafening roar resounded. "What the hell!" Turning his head to look at the spider, "Huh?" —Sssss. The spider was dissolving and dissipating like dry ice. In front of it stood Leona and the other students. What just happened? "Could it be?" Did they manage to deal with that monstrous beast? Did that girl do it? —Thud. His legs gave way, and he collapsed onto the floor. Now, all that was left was to clutch his head and scream. It felt so unreal that he couldn’t even stand. Tears continued to flow, and his heart was pounding as if it would burst. And then, "Hey, are you okay?" "…" At some point, Leona had crouched in front of him, calling out as if scolding. "Huh?" "It was just an illusion, that Warp Spider." "An illusion...?" "It's all right now. Pull yourself together." An illusion? "It must have been a prank by the professors, or maybe they were testing us. Still, you're a hero-in-training. Should you really be crying like that and screaming on top of it? Calm down, come on. They say men cry three times in their lives, but you... Screaming like a banshee. Be composed, okay?" After finishing her words, Leona stood up. "…" Reality hit. "An illusion." An illusion, she said. "…" As he mulled over those words, an overwhelming embarrassment engulfed him. His entire body felt aflame, heating his face intensely. —Whoooosh! "…Damn it." Is there anything that goes right...