I Have a Fiancee in a Parallel World

26 – Team Play

Virtual Gate Simulation Field

The largest building in the academy, a formidable dome stadium boasting the scale of two soccer fields combined.

Hundreds of students from Classes 4 to 11 were gathered here for the quarterly evaluation, sitting in teams scattered here and there. However, due to its size, capable of accommodating tens of thousands of people, the stands seemed almost empty.

The students couldn’t take their eyes off the terrain and structures that faithfully replicated the inside of the gate.

“Wow, look at that. It looks exactly like a goblin lair. Is that over there a lizardman habitat? I’ve never seen that gate, so I’m not sure.”

“Maybe it’s just the scale that’s different, but it’s probably similar. To create a single virtual gate, they have to investigate and analyze it for two years without killing any demons.”

“Wow… is that possible? The academy is no joke…”

Large guilds that create and maintain virtual gate simulation fields are known to be few. However, in terms of scale and intricacy, they were on an entirely different level compared to what the Academy had.

With the government’s substantial financial support, the gate-related infrastructure was beyond the reach of most private companies, let alone the Academy.

[Class 4 Kim Hyun-seok / Class 4 Kim Ui-yeon / Class 4 Hwang Seok-yong / Class 4 Kim Tae-hoon / Class 4 Oh Ji-yeon / Class 4 Han Ye-yeon]

Names appeared on the large screen in the front, and a broadcast played through the speakers as they were being identified.

“Wow… all Class 4? That’s incredible.”

“Why are you so surprised? Are they the only Class 4s? Class 4s probably formed their own teams. Class 5s as well…”

“So, what’s the reason for team formation? Shouldn’t they be forced to mix to some extent?”

“The Academy is a microcosm of society. If you want to team up with strong people, you’ll have to spend money or use some tricks, right? Look over there, they seem to have mixed a bit.”

In the direction where the chatters were pointing, there was a team composed of 4 Class 4 students and one Class 9 student.

“How did that Class 9 student manage to join a Class 4 team?”

“That’s because their grandfather is the chairman of the Hyeo-jun Group.”

“…Even if their Hunter abilities are lacking, their financial power is astounding, right?”

“But Class-wise, they’re higher than us, aren’t they?”

With lowered heads and a sense of frustration, these were teams made up of Class 10 students.

“Hey, look over there. What’s that?”

“Oh, isn’t that Kang Ji-hoon? And next to him is Han Soo-young… Famous people meeting each other?”

“It looks like it’s just the two of them? Is that insane?”

“Do you think they wanted it that way? There’s no way other teams would accept them. The Class 11 students would be hesitant too.”

“But I heard they defeated Do Yeong-hwan’s team.”

“Well, that’s not exactly confirmed. Do Yeong-hwan hasn’t been at the Academy for quite some time. There must have been some behind-the-scenes talk.”

The team they were sneering at

Ji-hoon and Soo-young were sitting leisurely, Ji-hoon holding a hotdog and a cola in one hand. No… Ji-hoon was the only one sitting leisurely. Soo-young was too anxious to even take a bite of her hotdog or sip her cola.

“Why aren’t you eating that delicious hotdog? I bought two because I wanted to eat both, but since we’re on the same team, I got one for you.”

Ji-hoon says to Soo-young as he takes a big bite of his hotdog.

“Oh… uh… thanks… but Ji-hoon, aren’t you nervous at all?”

“What’s there to be nervous about? It’s a virtual test, right? They say there’s no real damage, just measurements.”

“Well, it’s still an exam. All the other Academy students are watching too…”

“You’re quite shy, aren’t you? Yet, how did you manage to stand up for me when I fought last time?”

When Jihoon sincerely asked Sooyoung, she lowered her head and answered in a hesitant voice.

“I’ve experienced bullying too… You have no idea how lonely it is when no one stands up for you.”

“Oh? Who bullied you? After the exams, let’s find them and give them a good scare.”

“Heh… What’s that supposed to be?”

Whether Jihoon thought he was trying to ease the tension with a joke, Hansoo Young smiled and took a bite of her hotdog.

“What’s with that strange outfit?”

Jihoon asked Sooyoung while looking at the fourth-class students waiting for the first exam.

“Oh, this jumpsuit? You have to wear it to digitize the damage. It measures strength, speed, and mana levels, and instantly calculates the damage taken from virtual monsters.”

“The ones with a lot of stamina might find it unfair, huh?”

“If you guard with a shield or armor, it’s set up so that much less damage is taken. Oh, and even using a shield skill with mana levels is measured.”

“Wow… It’s state-of-the-art… Impressive…”

Jihoon genuinely admired, but he couldn’t help but wonder if the system would recognize his own inner strength and maximum speed.

“But you seem to have a lot of information? Are you the diligent type?”

Jihoon teased Sooyoung slightly, and she immediately blushed deeply and lowered her head.

“You have to analyze and study… I can’t stay at the bottom forever, after all.”

Seeing her more determined than he expected, Jihoon smiled broadly and said, “You do have plans to climb up, don’t you? Good. I’ll deliberately take a few hits, so make sure to heal me diligently. Got it?”

Sooyoung chuckled in response to Jihoon’s playful words.

***

Equipped in their jumpsuits at the entrance of the field, the fully prepared fourth-class team enters.

“Wow!! Let’s go!!”

“Stay strong!!”

Even though it’s a midterm evaluation, words of encouragement reach those starting their run.

Perhaps the fourth-class teams don’t see each other as competitors?

The enthusiastic cheers echoed through the field more fervently than expected.

Doo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oom

With a grand sound, hundreds of three-dimensional digitized monsters are summoned throughout the field.

“Whoa!”

“Wow, they look so real.”

“Whoa… This is kinda scary.”

Many people who encounter virtual gate simulations for the first time are amazed.

The appearance of virtual gate monsters that unfold randomly.

The first test was the orcs.

With their massive size and savage appearance, they naturally struck fear into everyone.

The monsters, with their axes in hand and helmets on their heads, were portrayed as even more brutish and powerful warriors.

Beep-

The test begins with the sound of a horn.

As soon as the test starts, Han Ye-yeon stretches out her hands towards the sky, releasing her magic power.

[Blessing of Spring]

The energy of her magic power, coming from both hands, turns into a white light and quickly envelops the rest of the team members.

“Wow! That must be the Blessing of Spring!”

“Wow… it’s amazing to see it in action.”

Blinding light shoots out from the bodies of the team members who received the buff from Han Ye-yeon.

The light is then absorbed into each individual.

The team members approach the orcs cautiously, their bodies feeling lighter.

At the back of the group, Kim Hyun-seok activates his skill.

Near the rocks where the orcs are gathered, a circular magic circle appears in the sky above them, and fireballs burst out, engulfing the orcs.

“Gueeak!”

The orcs burning in flames scream vividly as they fall.

One or two orcs rush towards the team.

Swish

Swish

Ojiyeon, who was holding a longsword, skillfully cuts down the orcs approaching the team.

When the magic circle spews fire again, burning the orcs in the distance, the scattered orcs from various places start rushing towards a single point.

Except for Ojiyeon, who was fending off the approaching orcs, the rest of the team members gather in one place.

[Giant’s Shield]

Tanker Hwang Seok-yong raises his shining shield and unleashes his magic power, activating his skill, the Giant’s Shield.

The magic power spreads out from the shield like smoke and quickly takes on a solid form, forming a barrier that stops the charging orcs.

As the circular magic circles appear behind the orcs multiple times and shower fireballs on them, the number of orcs quickly decreases, leaving only half of the initial amount.

“…Wow.”

“Hey…this is…”

“This is no joke…”

The spectators from the other classes who were watching couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

“So this is…the Hunter team.”

“It’s perfect…not a single one missing from the dealer, tanker, healer, they don’t even get hit.”

The orc horde charges recklessly, but they can’t pierce through the giant’s shield, and a massacre is unfolding.

Although they were three-dimensional data, the orcs looked pitiful.

The first start of the 4-class team has become a sight that dampens the spirits of other teams with perfect teamwork.

Ji Hoon immediately heals Oh Ji Yeon, who allows some damage while dealing with orcs coming from behind the shield with his longsword.

“Did you eat all of that?”

Ji Hoon asks Soo Young, who is still focused on the exam, while holding a hotdog in her hand.

“Oh? Yeah, here.”

Ji Hoon takes the hotdog and devours it in one bite, then gulps down the cola and leans back, feeling satisfied.

“Ji…Ji Hoon, they’re amazing.”

“Yeah, they are. Great teamwork. Wake me up when it’s our turn.”

“…Huh?”

Ji Hoon closes his eyes as they are.

Soo Young stares at Ji Hoon with eyes that have found something more amazing than the perfect team play of the 4-class team.