Haru's haircut caused a massive stir, and instead of "Four Emperors," a peculiar and absurd nickname, "A-Class Individuals," stuck with Class A as a whole. As attention grew, so did envy and jealousy among peers. Among them, Donghyuk, who consistently exhibited animosity towards me, didn't miss out.
Whether he perceived me as an outright adversary after the last incident or not, Donghyuk's hostility only intensified over time. Sihyun simply ignored Donghyuk, who always seemed eager to glare at him whenever there was a chance.
Instead, he invested his time adapting to the unfamiliar school and abilities.
As Haru grew accustomed to the gazes and worked on improving his speech impediment, Sihyun diligently visited classes, focusing on skill replication. He practiced copying skills whenever he could and diligently honed his healing abilities without fail.
While aiming to become adept at managing mana, Sihyun experienced exhaustion several times due to exhausting all his mana while using skills. Gradually understanding the mana consumption per skill, he realized that while his mana was more than most, it was not on the lower side.
However, it boiled down to the fact that the healer's skill efficiency was abysmal and devoured a considerable amount of mana per use.
Discovering this fact during theoretical classes left Sihyun feeling somewhat cheated. He wondered why previous Duals hadn't chosen healers until he realized it was due to healers being mana-devouring monstrous classes.
Lamenting over the late realization, knowing that his class wouldn't be revoked, Sihyun could only shed silent tears.
He spent his time studying, training, and resting in his dormitory. Amidst the routine that unfolded like a hamster wheel, even in Choaegang High School, where different events occurred each time, he considered this as a skill. The approach of March 30th was swift.
Sihyun tapped the pairing device, observing the holographic window that appeared in his field of vision. It was an announcement that arrived a week ago.
[End-of-Month Evaluation Notice]
1st Year, 1st Semester, 1st End-of-Month Evaluation
Theme: Survival
Details: Survive for three days in a virtual field with diverse threatening Irregulars, including up to the highest risk Irregulars, using various methods.
Type: Score-based using a virtual reality system
Date: March 30th, 1st period to 8th period (70 hours within the virtual reality)
Sihyun checked the date once more on his phone, finding it to be March 30th. Today was the day for the first end-of-month evaluation.
"Did they say we're gathering at the field this time?"
"It's the auditorium, Mina. How bad is your memory?"
"Just end it after the first period, please."
Hamin grumbled irritably, and Haewoon chuckled naively. Confirming the day, Sihyun glanced at Haru. As there was an unconventional suggestion that uniforms weren't mandatory during the end-of-month evaluations, everyone in Room 207 dressed comfortably.
Hamin wore a black hoodie with beige shorts, Haewoon donned a gray sweatshirt with black shorts. Sihyun, in long-sleeved tracksuit top and bottom, and Haru was in a...
"Hyung, you'll be cold like that."
He wore a short-sleeved shirt and shorts.
"Ah..."
Upon Sihyun's remark, Haru glanced down at his attire. When a short sigh escaped, Sihyun's gaze turned back to Hamin. If anyone were to ask Sihyun who he got closest to among the Four Emperors in the past month, it was none other than Hamin.
To Sihyun's perception, he seemed the most normal among the Four Emperors, and amidst the abnormal ones, Sihyun found Hamin surprisingly normal. After a few conversations, they naturally became somewhat close. Not enough to call them friends, but comfortable enough.
"Lee Hamin, lend your clothes to Haru."
Uttering these words naturally, without specifying if it was a request or an order, Hamin furrowed his brows, seemingly bothered.
"Haru has clothes too."
"Can't you just lend yours?"
"...."
Haru hadn't brought much from the lab. He had few spare clothes. Realizing this belatedly, Sihyun suggested going to buy clothes, but time was too short to prepare by today. Moreover, the size difference between them made it impossible to lend without causing an embarrassing scene.
So, apart from seeking help from someone else among Room 207 who might have a similar build to Haru's, there weren't many options.
Sihyun's blue eyes met Hamin's. Though Hamin seemed to have a reason, he didn't explain further, and seeing his discomfort, Sihyun sighed. He knew better than anyone that he was the least burdened by this situation.
Why was he so insistent when it came to Haru but not with others?
Not wanting to engage in unnecessary conflict, Sihyun swallowed his words and, on behalf of Haru who hesitated in front of the closet, opened the door.
"And here we go."
A forced chuckle escaped.
"Oh, what now?"
"Look at these clothes. Are we on a runway here?"
The numerous clothes hanging in the closet made for quite a spectacle. There were so many that it was overwhelming, far more than one could wear.
"What's this, a circus?"
Would you wear these clothes?
Yoo Sihyun, now Kang Sihyun, entered the room still wearing his shoes, his face flushing as he pulled out a striking outfit from the wardrobe. Sihyun frowned at the shoe marks left on the floor.
"Who comes into a room wearing shoes?"
"It was picked out by Father's secretary. It wasn't my choice."
Ignoring his words, Hamin grabbed the clothes and his ears reddened while talking. Sihyun had always noticed that Hamin wore his embarrassment openly, as if his face broadcasted why Haewoon teased him.
Teasing him was just fun because of his reactions.
"Who cares? While you're at it, pick out something for Haru hyung to wear."
"Just grab something and put it on."
Though his words twitched, his hands carefully chose an outfit. When Hamin handed me a black hoodie from the rack instead of Haru, I took it.
"Why give this to me?"
"Deliver it yourself."
"Why so insistent?"
At Hamin's unusually sensitive response, I glanced at Haru, wondering if something had happened between them without my knowledge. Haru shook his head as if to say he didn't know. It was puzzling.
"Put on the clothes first. You can layer that on top."
Despite his dislike for words, Hamin sensibly handed me an outer layer, quickly allowing me to dress and head to the auditorium. At the entrance, which now felt like a meeting point, I met Daun and Jihye. Somehow, they were both wearing similar tracksuits in different colors, giving off a couple vibe.
"Good morning, Sihyun."
"Hey, you too."
Daun greeted with her eyes, and Jihye exchanged morning pleasantries. Strangely, even though Daun was Sihyun's long-time friend, he felt more at ease with Jihye. As he glanced at Daun, brown eyes turned towards me. Why? His answer was always a nonchalant 'nothing'.
As we entered the hall, it buzzed with students. Geonu and Haewoon arrived late, joining the A-class group. The principal's words echoed just after the eight members of Class A gathered.
"Ah, hello, first-year students of Choaegang High School."
"Hello!"
The students energetically greeted the teacher's welcome, seemingly lively even in the morning.
"Did you sleep well last night? As this is your first end-of-month assessment after enrollment, some of you might have been nervous and couldn't sleep...”
The principal's formalities were partly listened to, partly ignored. After a few minutes, he finally began explaining the end-of-month assessment.
"For this month's evaluation, you will access a virtual world provided by the Korean Awakened Association through a virtual gaming device. Your goal is to survive for 2 nights and 3 days in the virtual world, where multiple Quadruple-Class and Supreme King irregulars are simulated. You will earn 1000 points for each day survived, and your activities will be scored by the system."
"…"
As the explanation continued, the teacher suddenly stopped, scanning the students. Those who had experienced such simulations before looked at the teacher anxiously.
A heavy silence fell. It felt different from placement tests or class exams. The bombshell was dropped then.
"Furthermore, the bottom 8 students with the lowest scores will be expelled from Choaegang High School."
"…"
The students were stunned. Alongside the sudden announcement, they heard that those expelled would go to 'Criminal High School' for further education. Rather than calming the students, this seemed to amplify their anxiety. It was natural.
'Criminal High School' was a high school that trained the 'criminals', consisting only of D-grade or lower Awakened individuals.
Sihyun wore an expression of disgust towards the school that rigidly adhered to the meritocratic system, as he had expressed during the placement test. However, regardless of his feelings, the school's policy remained unyielding.
Amidst the chaos, as the additional explanations ended, 96 devices were brought into the auditorium. Sihyun looked at Haru, who met his gaze, encouraging him silently.
That was the last sight before Sihyun entered the device, closing his eyes as the machine automatically sealed shut.
"Connecting to the field," a voice whispered in his ear, and his vision flickered.
When he opened his eyes again, Sihyun stood in the midst of a forest filled with dead trees.
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