I Became the Only Non-mage in the Academy

TL/Editor: looloo

Schedule: 5/Week Wed-Sun

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"I'm sure you've all worked hard during these midterms."

Swift action was a hallmark of the Korea Hero Academy.

No matter what happened, if villains or the Mines managed to breach the school and caused harm to students or professors, the academy was quick to offer compensation and medical treatment.

"As a result, the school has decided to shift its policies. Given the high chance of villains and Mines invading, and seeing the boundless potential in you all, we're planning to strengthen our curriculum."

The students showed concern at Instructor Seo Woojoo's words.

"It's going to be much tougher than before."

His words made the students tense.

This shift was common in the second year, but it was starting early.

'Does that mean it's going to be really hard?'

It was possible that the superior individuals of the good and neutral factions might be swayed to join the Mines.

Or maybe the Seven Evils and those above them had become significantly stronger.

In the worst case, both situations might be true.

Either way, it wasn't a positive scenario.

"Also, we're planning to introduce team-based learning. The teams will typically consist of two people. However, there may be variations based on grades. You'll also be allowed to combine teams for group projects or dungeon exploration as approved by the professors, so keep that in mind.”

The students reacted strongly to Seo Woojoo's words.

The lower-ranked students immediately turned their attention to me.

Meanwhile, high-ranked students like myself were focused on Kim Ara, who had shined during the Mines War.

"Moreover, this strategy also aims to encourage mutual growth. If top-ranked students mentor those who are struggling, they'll receive bonus points. Likewise, the lower-ranked students will get extra points for improving while observing their top-ranked counterparts."

The students' attention on me grew stronger after these words.

"Now, consider who you want to team up with. Submit your list of team members before lunch today."

With that, Instructor Seo Woojoo exited the room.

The next class was scheduled in 30 minutes.

It meant that the students had to make their decision within that time.

"Kim Ara will team up with me."

Hong Yuhwa declared confidently.

She looked briefly at Kim Ara, not at me.

"Hmm, so even Hong Yuhwa has her eyes on Kim Ara?"

"Absolutely."

It made sense.

Both Hong Yuhwa and Ersil were powerful mages who excelled in rear or mid-range support.

They were in desperate need of an exceptional front-line fighter.

But such front-line fighters were rare to find.

There are untrained front-line fighters, but most of them end up being nothing more than human shields.

Kim Ara is an exceptional front-line fighter who has also kept her power hidden, so her rank is only in the 200s.

She's a prized pick for the top-ranking mages.

Park Woonhyuk teamed up with a mage student who was following him.

“Seoha, who are you going to partner with?”

“Me? Let's see."

I glanced at Kim Seohyun while thinking.

I've already chosen my partner.

It's Seo Gayeon.

It's clear, but Seo Gayeon is still a rookie.

She just recently discovered her starlight magic.

Even if others latch onto her due to her potential, it's best for me to stay close, teaching her various things to aid her development.

"Kim Ara, on the other hand, will naturally improve as long as her primal force awakens."

In fact, interference from others could prove detrimental.

After all, she is the only child of the 'Suzerain' in this world.

"Still unsure?"

"Yeah, I'm torn."

I followed Kim Seohyun's gaze.

Kim Seohyun was also looking at the students, troubled.

And...... at the end of that gaze was Seo Gayeon.

Honestly, for someone like Kim Seohyun, most partners end up being an obstacle.

He has martial arts skills, magic, and knows how to set up barriers.

What Kim Seohyun needs in a partner is someone stronger than him, and that's enough.

In this regard, Kim Seohyun is the person I need to be most cautious of.

He's also strikingly good-looking.

Should I call it androgynous?

He's pretty and strangely small, so he sparks protective instincts. In addition, his abilities are exceptional.

He's truly a prince, so I'm wary of Kim Seohyun.

"What? I'm not picking, but she is?"

A surprised voice echoed.

When I turned to look, I saw Hong Yuhwa, Kim Ara, and Ersil. Both Hong Yuhwa and Ersil looked shocked.

"Am I not good enough?"

Kim Ara casually tilted her head and asked.

"Kim Ara is certainly good enough. But when thinking about teamwork, I don't think you two would be a good match."

Ersil answered calmly.

However, her twitching lips showed her nervousness.

"But she's not the type to worry about teamwork, right?"

"......That's true."

Ersil reluctantly agreed.

......Did Kim Ara pick Kim Seohyun?

As I was wondering, Kim Ara walked towards me.

"I want to team up with you."

"......With me?"

"Yeah. I'm definitely skilled, and given my skills, my rank is low, so I'm a valuable teammate, right?"

Kim Ara spoke in a casual tone.

Her face was expressionless, but there was a subtle confidence.

The confidence of picking me naturally.

"Uh......"

Kim Ara is certainly good enough.

If Seo Gayeon is the best choice for me, then Kim Ara is the second best.

"Wha, what about me?!"

Then, suddenly, Seo Gayeon interrupted.

"I, I may have climbed up in the recent evaluation, but I'm still ranked 700th. But Seoha, you said it yourself. I can reach the... top ranks."

"......I did."

"And I, I can work hard!"

"......"

I know that Seo Gayeon can work hard.

Before she discovered her talent, she was the type of person who pushed herself, claiming all she had was effort.

"Hmm."

Ersil smirked with a playful expression.

"What about me then?"

"You?"

Ersil jumped in too.

"But Ersil, you're ranked third."

"If Lee Seoha and I team up, it will be too easy~. Then it'll be hard to earn points. But the school said they're making the curriculum harder, so don't you think they'll give us something quite challenging? We could earn a lot of points, right?"

......She's right.

If I were to actually team up with Kim Seohyun and Ersil, I could expect the game's difficulty to increase by one level.

The rewards do get slightly better compared to that, but in relation to the difficulty, it makes one wonder: is it really worth it...?

However, when Ersil jumped in, the gazes of the other two wavered.

Kim Ara's strange fluctuating confidence was concerning.

There's a reason why I call Kim Ara a total nerd.

It's because she acts like a nerd.

If she refuses here, she will definitely be ostracized. For about half a year.

On the other hand, Seo Gayeon is still unable to properly control the power of the starlight.

Therefore, an opportunity arises where we can team up and I can give her advice on various things to aid her growth.

If it had been a three-person team, I would have more comfortably accepted.

Choosing Seo Gayeon as is would be the right thing to do.

I looked at the three of them and softly opened my mouth.

---

Raei Translations

---

"Should I set it up here?"

"Yes, please set it up there."

Penthouse.

The installers came there and personally set up the VR device.

The reason I bought a VR device was due to the Alchemy Guild.

To connect to the cyberspace, this device was necessary.

The Alchemy Guild is both extremely closed and open.

This is because the guild was created in a space called the internet.

However, such a thing is normally impossible.

Just because you have the ingredients and a recipe doesn't mean you can perform alchemy easily.

How you handle the ingredients, how you process them, how you infuse them with magic, even a tiny mistake of 0.1g can mess everything up.

That's why you have to train for about ten years as an apprentice, who is treated like a graduate student, to gain the insight of a master.

That's why alchemy is so secretive.

'Normally, this would be absolutely impossible.'

The reason why the Alchemy Guild could be created was due to the presence of the Electronic Witch.

Electronic Witch.

She had the talent to transform the digital world into her own space and build within it.

And she used that talent to project the real world into the virtual realm.

'That's why it was doable.'

In the space where the real world is projected, alchemists gather to show off their own recipes or make elixirs, secure copyrights, and make a fortune from it.

That's why the Alchemy Guild has become open.

Especially, the Alchemy Guild holds this meeting about once a month, because here you can minimize the error value of potions.

In the real world, you project a 'piece' of an ingredient that may only appear once in ten years here and make a potion with it to minimize the error value.

In exchange, the Alchemy Guild provides the Electronic Witch with what she needs.

So, they maintain a mutual relationship.

However, there is a downside.

Even while projecting a part of the real world here, since it's a virtual space, you can set up a separate avatar.

Yes.

A VR device. You can set and create an avatar.

These two things come together and the abyss here... is truly an abyss in itself.

Even Ersil and Kim Seohyun, who have strong mental fortitude, had to pass out at a single look at the abyss, so you can imagine for yourself how terrifying it would be.

"Let's get in."

I laid down on the virtual reality device, with the Black Heavenly Demon Sword by my side.

I wonder if it's worth the money.

Maybe because it was only available in the Diamond class, it was very comfortable just by laying down.

I put on the VR device and started to connect.

enjoy! :)

good thing his potion recipes change the course of history as soon as he makes them 😭

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