Chapter 13 : School is a fucking spectacle #8 - No Kidding, I’m an Extra

"Wow, this place is huge." The top floor was essentially half dedicated to a bathhouse. The other half was a jjimjilbang. The snack bar in the jjimjilbang was closed since it was nighttime, but it might be worth trying out when I return. Anyway. Maybe because it was past 11 PM. The large bath was deserted. It felt like I had rented the entire space just for myself. "I feel like a piece of meat soaking in a pot." Submerging in the hot water and lightly massaging my tense muscles was absolute bliss. After finishing up training and gym workouts, nothing felt as refreshing as this. You really can’t beat student life. In terms of time, how long have I trained and worked out? About five hours combined? I finished the challenge mode earlier and tried out various trainings. Time seemed to fly by as fast as when I’m engrossed in a video game. School life is going to be a lot more entertaining from now on. *Splash.* I emerged from the water and decided it was enough basking for one night. * * * Back in the dorm room, I put the sausage and barbecued chicken drumstick that I had bought earlier into the microwave and cracked open a 500 ml Zero Cola. Then, dressed in only trunks and a white t-shirt, I sat in front of the computer. Ah, a beer would be perfect right now. Sitting here at night and no beer? Are you trying to kill me? "Give me beer." To think I'd experience such a dreadful torment in my life. It felt as if my very soul was being crushed. I should scout for somewhere to get some beer. Back in high school, all it took was borrowing an ID from a friend's older brother, but I don't have such connections now. That’s why having a network is invaluable. I need to figure something out. Anyway. *Clickety-clack.* I opened the internet and accessed a search portal. This is not just web surfing; it’s research. I still don’t know much about this world. So, I need to invest time to gather information. Therefore, it's akin to studying. What should I search for... let's see. "Lee Sora." Instantly, results poured in. "Hmm." There are quite a lot of search results. Her wild red hair leaves a strong impression; she's a striking beauty with sharp features. There are plenty of records next to her profile... impressive. As I switch to the video portal and type her name, videos line up one after another. *Boom!* In the videos, Instructor Lee Sora exuded such charisma that her presence was truly captivating. Clad in a suit, her red hair fluttering, she leaped between buildings and performed aerial jump attacks, subduing superhuman villains known as 'villains.' *Boom!* *Thunk!* Her violence was merciless. Quickly moving to apprehend a villain, she’d drive her fingers into their shoulder and then punch their face with her other hand. Crushing the villain's face, she'd continue by stomping them mid-air causing them to plummet. *Thunk!* The villain used as her stepping stone was literally shattered into pieces and killed. "Impressive." Is this a true superhuman? Is this real? She's currently scaling a building wall vertically at an incredible speed. It’s truly awe-inspiring. And it doesn’t stop there. Switching to another video, she lifted a creature resembling a human despite its hard, crab-like skin and eyes. Grasping its thighs and chest, she tore it apart as if it were nothing. Then, with a single bound, she reached the head of a giant creature and crushed its crown with her stomp. "Is this wuxia? She's using Cheonma Gunlimbo?" Her movements were exactly like those of a martial arts master—a supreme level one. This was a phenomenal highlight. If you dared mess with her, you'd meet a grim fate. It's astounding how superhumans can reach such levels. I gathered information while expressing admiration. At some point, Instructor Lee Sora suddenly retired and became an academy instructor. She was originally very popular and a promising hero, so her retirement was considered premature. Though there's much speculation about her reason for retiring, she’s never disclosed it herself. She probably had her reasons. "Alright, now the academy director." Let's look up information about the director. *Clickety-clack.* The director is a striking black-haired beauty with a scar across her face. In the photos, her hair is tied back in a ponytail, and she wears a black uniform with a golden epaulette-edged jacket draped over her shoulders. Her hat and sunglasses add a stylish aura. If Instructor Lee Sora used spiked gloves and knuckles as her arsenal, the director wields a long saber, embodying a swordsman’s style. "Practically a first-generation awakener, she played a significant role in the Dimension War, and is regarded as a legendary war hero in Korea." The Dimension War is said to have been a cataclysmic event from the past. An event where the sky tore open, allowing monsters from another dimension and their power to seep in. It erupted across the globe, and as a repercussion, North Korea, China, Russia, Africa, and South America perished. Yet, somehow, Korea survived, due to the self-sacrificial fight of first-generation awakeners. "But how old is she?" There’s no data. She appears to be in her late twenties, but considering she participated in a war decades ago, she must be significantly older. Her alias is listed as 'Heuk Yacha,' but her real name is not provided. News articles suggest she used her influence to completely erase personal details. Since she did so before the internet became prominent, nobody seems to know her age. "I almost got on her bad side, huh." When you think of a war hero in Korea, isn't it MacArthur? It was essentially a situation where I could have gotten in trouble with MacArthur. Such a valuable experience is priceless. Getting a photo with MacArthur? I'd rather avoid that. "Next... the Kainers family." Leona's full name is Leona Kainers. It was mentioned that they're an extraordinary family. Some kind of powerful faction ruling Europe. "Mr. Dominators." If Korea has war heroes, Europe possesses Mr. Dominators. These first-generation superhuman war heroes fiercely fought the monsters to protect Europe. Gaining territorial control, they became a superhuman power hub in Europe. The Kainers family is evaluated as significantly powerful among them. "But why did she come to an academy in Korea?" "There's no shortage of schools abroad." "Ares Academy. Search." Ah, after skimming through it, I see. Korea is apparently the world leader in superhuman-related education, even surpassing the US. That's why students from all over the world are sent here to study. "Interesting." That clears up a few of my curiosities perfectly. For the record, the current autocratic ruler of Korea, often referred to as the Lord of Korea, is Kim Ik-su, an S-rank awakener. He's also a war hero. "It's like an alternate history." Well, along those lines. I continued web surfing while eating my meal. "That ostrich, that piece of crap." When I searched for the name of the monster I passionately fought at the training ground, a page came up on the wiki. Good. I'll use this wiki to study the characteristics of different monsters. Wikis can be surprisingly useful at times like this. But the wiki's name is... "Enha Wiki?!" These guys didn't go out of business here? * * * "Ugh, I'm so sleepy." Probably because I put in too much effort yesterday. I'm on the verge of collapsing from sleepiness right now. But as a student, I have to go to school. I'll drag my sleepy body forward like a zombie. Move ahead like the horn of a rhinoceros, Kim Geun-cheol. Even if it's a death march. *Squeak.* When I opened the classroom door, "Hey! Isn't this Screamer Man!” Who the heck is this guy? A bespectacled blabbermouth with brown shaggy hair cheerfully raised a hand towards me... What? Hold on. "Sc-Screamer what? What did you just call me?" "I called you Screamer Man." "Scr-Screamer Man?" Why in the world would you call me such an incomprehensible nickname? What's the connection between me and screams? If you're giving me a nickname, choose something more relevant...! Don't attach irrelevant stuff like screams!” "Why do you look so bewildered as if you've heard something utterly unexpected?" The mind reader pushed his glasses up with his finger and said. "You of all people should know best that your nickname is Screamer Man, Screamer Man." "Ah, come on...! That little outburst and you brand me with a weird nickname? If that earns me the name Screamer Man, then everyone in the world is a Screamer Man. I just let out a slight yell, how does that make me Screamer Man..." Surely, this nickname hasn't spread too far, right? Feeling embarrassment wash over me, I took my seat and noticed some gazes directed at me. A few classmates were looking over with amusement. Jeez! “If what you did is considered slight, then flies are birds. You truly are Screamer Man.” Flies are birds, huh. This guy sat down in front of me naturally, turning his body towards me. But I haven't seen this guy before, why is he acting so familiar first thing in the morning? Frankly, it's bewildering. “It's obvious that the nickname has spread around the class. I laughed myself silly yesterday. Anyway, Screamer Man is a nickname coined with affection, so I'd appreciate you taking it in stride... We wouldn't want you reacting like you did with Ryu Cheon-hwi.” Ryu Cheon-hwi. That jerk, well, he acted like a jerk and even resorted to violence, hence the reaction. I wouldn't react the same towards someone calling me a nickname in greeting. “It's not like I do that to just anyone. So, what's your name?” “I’m Ken. Just call me Ken.” What country is he from? “And you’re Screamer Man.” “Just shut it already...!” “Moreover, my curiosity was unstoppable. You could say I came here specifically to ask you this today.” *Flash.* He adjusted his glasses again. This time, grasping the ends with his thumb and middle finger. “What is it?” “How could you do such a thing! What on Earth were you thinking when you made that risqué joke to the youngest of Ryu Seong Group...!” “Huh?” Ryu Seong Group. I've heard of it, but it doesn't particularly concern me. Just because he's the son of a group doesn't mean he can bully kids. “It was absolutely astounding! To make a risqué joke to the youngest of Ryu Seong Group without hesitation! It left me trembling! That you could demonstrate such boldness, you are an owner of significant courage… I can sense something from you!” “And what exactly is Ryu Seong Group?” “What? You seriously don’t know?” Well, I'm not really informed about it. “They create equipment for superhumans! They're a top-tier conglomerate in that field—number one in the business, some might say! Even in munitions, they’re the best! They're a leading corporation in monster industry and the new energy sector!” Ah, not Ryu Seong but Samsung, then. “You made a risqué joke to such a powerhouse!” “Oh, come on. You start making it sound serious when you speak so gravely, it’s getting kind of scary. You're joking, right?” “It’s a foolish question, your courage wouldn’t be swayed by something like this. Anyway, it was great talking. I’ve always wanted to have a conversation with you. I think we’d get along we-” At that moment. "Geun-cheol? What were you guys just talking about?" Out of nowhere, Lee Si-hoo popped up behind me and joined the conversation. “Si-hoo, you’re here?” “Yeah. But is the guy beside you a friend?” I just met him today.