No matter how much he disliked imprinting, he had to choose one. It was a responsibility he couldn't entirely avoid. However, opting for a Dual-Class instead of a Quadruple-Class, considering the envy and jealousy it would spark among peers if he chose something powerful like Enhancement, seemed all too obvious. They would think he was deceiving them.
And in reality, that deception was true. Duals, Triples, and Quadruples were what other students couldn't have even if they wanted. Sihyun, his breath caught, glanced around. He could sense the slow, lingering gazes of those who might jump at his every word, so he leisurely closed and opened his eyes.
"I'll go for Healer."
"Sounds good."
Even if choosing a potent ability considering deception might stir jealousy, the world seemed to operate on jealousy when it came to such choices. So, he thought it better to pick a good class.
For instance, something valuable that could even threaten lives, something others wouldn't dare oppose out of respect.
Yes, something like a Healer class.
Once he became a Quadruple, leading a quiet life was out of the question. Not just the neighborhood, but people worldwide were bound to know him. Therefore, the teacher smiled at his choice of class, believing at least his safety was ensured.
Why did everyone seem to smile broadly at him? Not that he minded; he lowered his head in acknowledgment, moving toward the teacher holding the empty Healer class placard.
"I'll imprint, please."
"Oh, sure!"
He ignored the stares directed at him and entered the tent. With a peculiarly polite demeanor, the teacher gestured towards the registration machine in front of Sihyun. Unlike the one he'd seen before, this registration machine had 'Healer' written on it. Each class had a different-looking registration machine.
"Since you've done this before, you know the procedure, right?"
"Yes."
Nodding, he replied, prompting the teacher to step back from Sihyun. Placing his hand on the machine, he uttered the word 'imprinting.'
Once again, a brilliant light enveloped Sihyun. Similar to before, he felt all the information about the Healer class entering his mind as if being downloaded.
Starting from simple heals to continuous heals, area heals, cleansing, curse removal, mana recovery, and various other Healer skills unfolded in his mind. He absorbed it all with closed eyes, finding it quite fascinating. After the last skill finished, he slowly opened his eyes and looked at his hand.
"Being a Healer doesn't mean you can use all the Healer class skills. Depending on proficiency and talent, some skills may be available or not, and the mana cost varies. You'll have to explore and practice them yourself using your abilities."
Thanking the teacher for the kind explanation, he walked out of the tent. A sigh escaped him. He hadn't sighed this much before the fusion, but afterward, he found himself sighing noticeably more.
He felt various emotions like awe, admiration, and jealousy embedded in the stares directed at him. Suddenly yearning for a sanctuary, Sihyun scanned the surroundings and, spotting Haru nearby, walked toward him.
Step by step, as he approached, all eyes glued to him. Trying not to be self-conscious, as he reached Haru, the boy at the end of those stares seemed more absent-minded than usual.
"Hyung?"
"Oh! Uh?"
His startled response provided a consistent comfort in the current situation.
"Finished imprinting?"
"Uh, yeah. You?"
"Done."
Ah... A concise reply made Haru tilt his head, touching the pairing device on Sihyun's ring finger. It was a reaction no different from usual.
"...Aren't you surprised or anything?"
"...Huh?"
A person who was a New Class until yesterday suddenly became a Quadruple overnight. Despite trying not to be concerned, Sihyun couldn't help but ask Haru, who seemed clueless.
"What?"
"My class."
"Oh..."
At his prompt, Haru let out an exclamation, then fell silent. Seeing him mumbling without providing a proper answer, Sihyun, thinking it might be due to surprise, lifted his lowered head and added awkwardly.
"If... if I should be surprised, I'll be. I didn't know..."
Hmm. His following words were equally bewildering. Watching Haru, who seemed timid, lowering his head, Sihyun chuckled lightly and gently ruffled Haru's head right in front of him.
"...?"
"...You don't have to be surprised. I'm not upset about my class or anything."
Was this what it felt like to receive a carnation on Parents' Day? Haru reassuringly saying it didn't matter what class Sihyun had made him feel proud and relieved. As he playfully messed and then tidied up Haru's disheveled hair, he let out a relaxed breath.
The tension he'd felt since the beginning of imprinting gradually dissipated. This situation was aptly named by himself as a human sanctuary, secretly bestowed upon Haru. Initially seeming flustered but ending up content, Haru, without saying anything, lightly tapped Sihyun's hand with his head. While he thought it was subtle, to Sihyun, the gesture was quite evident, and he smiled, unwittingly squinting his eyes. It felt somewhat like an animal therapy session.
"You're goofing around."
"Oh..."
And so it went on.
The moment after the Imprinting ceremony ended and as I was looking for myself, Daun, with wisdom by her side, approached Haru and me with a peculiar expression. Sihyun, who had paused the act of stroking Haru's arm, threw a question at Daun, similar to the one he had asked her.
"We've finished the Imprinting. So what now?"
"What do you mean?"
As Sihyun avoided Daun's gaze despite guessing the reason, Daun, narrowing his eyebrows discontentedly, opened his mouth.
"Aren't you asking when you turned from a fragile boy who faints in five minutes and breaks with a flick?"
"I don't think I went that far."
"…."
"…Help me out."
As Sihyun swiftly shifted his stance upon sensing Daun's intensifying demeanor and reluctantly asked for help, Daun, visibly displeased, reluctantly nodded. It was a moment when he seemed about to utter words of gratitude.
"Oh, oh. Can everyone hear me?"
The conversation abruptly halted as a voice chimed in. Looking around at the familiar teachers who were closing the iron gate leading out of school, unease spread among the students.
"What's going on?"
"Why are they closing the gate?"
"Are we… trapped?"
Anxiety-filled voices echoed due to the teachers unexpectedly shifting the genre to a thriller. Sihyun was equally surprised by the sudden change.
"We've just received a report that all the Imprintings have been completed. The new students here must find their abilities today for the first time, which might feel unfamiliar and intriguing."
As if the teacher's voice had been amplified through a microphone, it reverberated from all sides.
"However, as students of the Supreme High School, there's one thing you must understand. That is, the Supreme High School operates in a world strictly governed by abilities."
Why are they teaching such nonsense in schools, for God's sake?
Schools are supposed to sow dreams and hopes, aren't they? Well, even if reality isn't quite like that, isn't the essence somewhat similar? But explicitly calling it an ability-centric world left Sihyun dumbfounded.
"You probably don't know which class you belong to yet, as the results haven't been announced. So, here's the question. What do you think determines your class assignment?"
"…."
No student answered the question, but Sihyun could sense that everyone had a fair idea. The unease, discontent, and confusion were evident in their eyes.
"A survey has just been sent through your pairings. If you check your pairing, you'll see a survey asking if you agree to receive the same assessment result as your partner in the placement test."
The students buzzed with murmurs upon hearing the following words. Checking their pairings and confirming the survey, Sihyun also pressed the pairing. A hologram window displayed their names, Haru's and his own, along with their classes and individual heart rates, with an accompanying notification saying, 'Survey Received.'
"The Supreme High School only has four classes: A, B, C, D. You'll be divided into these classes based on your talents and abilities. Those who have agreed in the survey will be assigned to the class of the person with the lower result between them and their partner. However, those who disagreed will be assigned to the class based on their own assessment result. If there's a difference between them and their partner, their classes will differ. Now, this will raise a question for you all. What exactly is the content of this placement test?"
Before the riddle was posed, as the teacher kept deferring the main point, Sihyun narrowed his eyes, finding the principal intriguingly guiding the conversation. Then, abruptly, the principal, like a military instructor, hardened his stance and exerted authority.
"The Supreme High School is a Mirgun educational institution. What will you learn here? Studies? How to use your abilities? While those are not entirely incorrect, the ultimate goal is different. You'll learn how to face 'Irregulars' here. Now, let me ask you. You're enrolling in a high school where you'll learn to counter Irregulars. What do you think you'll take the placement test with?"
"…."
The atmosphere grew heavier as the principal continued. Sihyun, who had been firming his expression, couldn't help but chuckle when he heard the principal's final question.
Surely, observing quietly to confirm if what he thought was right, he couldn't shake off the anxious premonition. Since the fusion, Sihyun had been experiencing astonishing moments where what he had thought as mere speculation turned into reality.
With a mix of fear, tension, and disbelief among the frozen students, the slowly speaking principal finally opened his mouth.
"You'll engage in combat against 'Suppression-Class' Irregulars."
"…Insane."
Though uttered quietly amidst everyone's shock and gasps, there were no eyes directed at him. It was evident that everyone was equally astounded.
Amidst the silent crowd, Sihyun, with a tight expression, clenched his fist, staring at the principal who continued to smile without a change in his expression.
This school must be crazy somewhere.
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