My first impression upon facing these trainees was simple: it felt like a complete disaster waiting to happen. That was all there was to it.
I wasn’t expecting a military-like atmosphere, like when I was a trainee myself. But this? This wasn’t just carefree—it had clearly crossed the line. No, it wasn’t just a feeling; it was a fact.
Soon, Ansol glanced at me cautiously, then flinched. Pointing at the trainees, she raised her voice sharply.
“W-what kind of language is that? That’s disrespectful!”
But the trainees remained unfazed. If anything, they jeered louder, murmuring among themselves.
“Quiet down, please!”
“Aw, come on, you’re way too uptight. Let’s just keep it chill. After all, we’re all here to help each other out.”
“H-help each other? What does that have to do with anything?”
“It matters. Instructor Kim Suhyun is the clan lord of the Mercenary clan, right? So if we ask questions about the clan, it’s like getting answers and promoting the clan at the same time. Hmm~. Isn’t that right?”
The young man who had spoken first looked around, seeking agreement from the others.
Ansol was about to snap back, but I calmly raised my hand to stop her. Then, I began walking slowly toward the trainees. Closer. Even closer.
“I will not allow any questions. So all trainees, please remain quiet.”
“Why not?”
“…I am your instructor here to train you. Promotion has not been authorized. Even if trainees ask questions first and I answer, the content must be strictly limited to training. Whether intentional or not, any promotional talk violates the rules.”
“Oh? Really? That’s strange. Other instructors have answered questions just fine.”
Despite my calm explanation, the young man only tilted his head in confusion.
Then, just as the noise began to settle somewhat, someone spoke up.
“Alright then, can we ask other questions? Instructor Kim Suhyun, are you… close with Instructor Han Soyoung by any chance?”
The moment those words left his mouth, the classroom erupted into loud laughter again.
Ahahaha!
Hehehehe!
The trainees laughed, clutching their sides and slapping their knees. I watched them quietly, then fell into thought.
How did it come to this?
…Actually, there’s no need to wonder.
Their adaptability was unnervingly high.
They had already defeated monsters from the Secret Class and the Rite of Passage.
Their average scores were higher than any previous batch.
And the way they spoke—as if they knew something—challenging me to promote the clan right in front of them.
Given the information I’d gathered on these trainees and what I’d just heard, it was obvious.
The problem was the excessive competition that had started even before activation. In other words, these trainees were fully aware of their position. They knew clans were lining up to recruit them after graduation.
The biggest cause was probably the instructors’ attitudes.
I’m certain that, while no one said it outright, many instructors had subtly revealed this. Especially those with top-tier magical talent titles—such pride only fueled their arrogance. (Users with magical talent are highly regarded not only in the User Academy but throughout the whole Hall Plain.)
In short, these kids already thought they were somebody.
The classroom was still noisy.
I calmly summoned my magic and took a slow breath. Then I spoke quietly.
“This is a complete mess…”
It wasn’t a loud voice, but it was filled with magic, enough to shake the trainees’ eardrums. The noise that had been so loud just moments ago quieted down noticeably—that was proof.
“Whoa~ Instructor Kim Suhyun, a mess? Actually, I’m part of the Secret Class.”
At that moment, the young man who had spoken first raised his hand cautiously.
“Secret Class?”
I widened my eyes in surprise. The young man, as if expecting this reaction, continued confidently.
“Yes. But I heard Instructor Kim Suhyun is also Secret Class, and the Mercenary clan has many such users, right?”
Listening to him, I activated my Third Eye and stared intently at the young man.
Name: Go Youngwoo (0 years)
Class: Soul Commander (Secret, Beginner)
Nation: -
Clan: -
Real Name/Nationality: Pedophillia, Republic of Korea
Gender: Male (18)
Height/Weight: 174.7 cm / 62.8 kg
Disposition: Foolish • Pervert (Idiot • Lethargic)
[Strength 31] [Endurance 24] [Agility 37] [Stamina 25] [Magic 48] [Luck 53]
Ah, so this is the trainee known for being eccentric and meddlesome. …But why such a strange disposition?
Anyway, nothing special. I deactivated my Third Eye immediately. It made me smirk.
Unless his initial stats were insanely good, this was just average—nothing remarkable. Aside from the Secret Class title of Soul Commander, his profile was uninteresting.
“Ahem. So…”
“Trainee, enough.”
“…Huh?”
“You don’t seem to understand. As I said before… I am—”
I cut off Go Youngwoo’s words with a cough and immediately began mind training. I pictured a hateful demon’s face on each trainee.
A moment later.
I quietly lifted my right foot and spoke softly.
“I have not permitted any questions.”
At the same time, I unleashed a controlled burst of magic, slamming the floor hard.
Bang!
A fierce wave of magic surged across the floor, instantly filling the classroom.
But it didn’t stop there. The intangible energy shot upward, striking down all twenty or so trainees.
Silence fell over the room.
“……”
“……”
The trainees, overwhelmed by detection, occupation, and intimidation effects, didn’t utter a single word.
No, “couldn’t” would be more accurate. Their faces had gone pale, and their bodies visibly trembled. I had held back enough to keep it from being worse—if I’d gone all out, the classroom would have been filled with screams.
…Still, not a single one dared to resist? I expected at least one. Are they really this disciplined?
After scanning the trainees, I withdrew my magic all at once. More than half of them gasped heavily and slumped over their desks.
Watching them, I relaxed my hands carefully.
Looks like today’s lesson will have to be a real mental training session.
After three hours of mental training.
“What were you thinking, saying that?”
“Sorry, hyung.”
On the way to the cafeteria, I scolded him lightly. Jin Suhyun bowed his head, then scratched it and chuckled sheepishly.
…He always scratches his head when he’s in trouble.
Here’s what happened: near the end of the mental training—which was really just a tough disciplinary session—I generously said they could ask questions.
But after three hours of being drilled, who would have the energy to ask anything? It was just a throwaway comment, but Jin Suhyun suddenly piped up.
“Hyung, can I ask a question too?”
Remembering him raising his hand earlier, I sighed and shook my head.
“But hyung, you’re amazing. How did you come up with that idea?”
“Huh? What idea?”
“This mental training. Watching you drill them today was no joke.”
“Oh, that? It’s nothing. I went through the same thing myself.”
I smiled lightly. Jin Suhyun looked skeptical, but it was true.
Long ago, before I came to Hall Plain, when I first enlisted in the military…
If I had to pick the hardest memory from my service, it wasn’t the survival training or chemical warfare drills.
It was the disciplinary training in the recruit camp, where I had to watch my fellow recruits get punished while I was spared. One drill sergeant caught me and a buddy whispering, then ordered everyone except us two to stand and receive punishment.
Being forced to sit and watch your comrades get drilled was pure torture. I still remember the angry looks they gave me.
Recalling that memory, I gave the same kind of discipline during today’s training. Everyone except the trainee who asked about my relationship with Han Soyoung got punished.
But that wasn’t all. I told those two to take a walk outside for some fresh air, while the others were made to march in duck steps around the academy. As a result, those two became the center of attention, forced to wander the User Academy for three hours.
I bet they’re cursing those two right about now, slapping their thighs and jabbering away…
Ah. After all that walking, we’d arrived at the cafeteria.
“Hyung, there’s something I really want to ask.”
“Is it urgent?”
I pointed toward the cafeteria, signaling that if it wasn’t urgent, we could talk over a meal.
Jin Suhyun nodded casually, and I headed straight for the instructors’ dining hall. I wasn’t particularly hungry, but I never skip meals if I can help it. It’s a habit I picked up after escaping the Fairy Forest.
After ordering such a nutritious meal, I picked up my bowl and sat down at an empty table.
“Hey~!”
“Oh my?”
I felt someone tap me on both shoulders.
“Missionary Road! Long time no see!”
“It’s been a while.”
A rough voice and a sultry one spoke simultaneously.
Soon, two users plopped down across from me—none other than Kim Deokpil and Seonyul. Without thinking, I turned to Kim Deokpil and said reflexively,
“No tobacco.”
“…We haven’t seen each other in ages. Is that really the first thing you say when you see me? Huh? Seriously?”
“What nonsense… It’s been a while. User Kim Deokpil. But I don’t have any tobacco.”
“…….”
For a moment, Kim Deokpil stared at me, stunned. Then he covered his mouth with one hand and put on a dramatically sorrowful expression.
A moment later, we both burst out laughing.
“Geez. You don’t even ask for it. That’s just stingy and gross.”
“Good resolve. By the way, I don’t think I’ve seen you at the User Academy before.”
“Oh, right. I’ve heard a lot about you, but I’ve been busy lately. You know I’m an instructor, right?”
“Missionary Road? Sorry to interrupt, but do I even exist to you?”
Just as I was about to say I knew he was an instructor, I caught the disappointed tone in Seonyul’s voice. I glanced at her and greeted, “Hello.” Then I turned my gaze back to Kim Deokpil. Seonyul, looking gloomy, started picking at her food with chopsticks.
“What do you mean, ‘just say’?”
I asked, puzzled. Kim Deokpil laughed, clutching his stomach for a while before pulling out a cigarette from his pocket and continuing.
“The rumor’s already spread like wildfire. I heard you really put the trainees through their paces this time?”
“Oh.”
Huh? It’s already out?
Well, that makes sense. I did go around advertising it like crazy for three hours.
“Honestly, I’m not in charge of that group, so I don’t know firsthand, but I heard some instructors are pretty salty about it… You sure you’re okay?”
“About what?”
“The discipline you handed out. Those guys are the most notable trainees this batch—the top 20 in magical talent and grades. Plus, there’s the secret class. Aren’t you worried you’re just making enemies for no reason?”
“Doesn’t matter. You can’t be scared of maggots and avoid making pickles. What’s wrong is wrong.”
I answered bluntly, smirking inwardly. After scrutinizing them with a third eye, I hadn’t found a single trainee worth my taste.
Even if there had been, I wouldn’t have spared them from discipline. The important thing was that none of them met my standards.
Maybe, as Hayun said, my criteria were too strict or my expectations too high. But even considering all that, there wasn’t a single trainee I wanted to recruit.
Just then—
“Oh? Suhyun?”
Suddenly, Seonyul called my name.
I thought she’d lost her mind and looked up, but I hesitated. Her gaze wasn’t on me.
Following her eyes, I saw Jin Suhyun standing blankly beside me, holding a plate. Looks like his order was a bit delayed.
And then—
“Se-Seonyul noona?”
From Jin Suhyun’s lips came a trembling voice, like a leaf shaking in the wind.
…Do they know each other?
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
ㅇ<-<.
(No response. I think it’s dead.)